Interview With Mark Thress - Classical vs Contemporary Voice

This is the audio version of the blogpost you can find at AllThingsVocal.com.

Today I interview Mark Thress… classical singer and teacher, voice science researcher, entrepreneur and colleague. He and I have been trading vocal lessons for about a year. Listen to this episode to hear us share our explorations and findings concerning the similarities and differences in contemporary and classical singing and teaching, as well as how cross-training can help both.

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If you want the best contemporary vocal training proven to maximize vocal ability and conquer strain, try Power, Path and Performance vocal training, available at www.JudyRodman.com in vocal lessons and on CD courses.

Find Mark Thress and his services at his Facebook page, Instagram @MarkThress and website.

Links mentioned in this podcast include:

• A video of one of our vocal lesson exchanges. (Watch us teach each other!)

Subjects covered in this episode include:

• How we met and our intention behind trading lessons.
• Similarities and differences between the genres of classical and contemporary singing.
• How all art is about effectively and authentically communicating a message to the one heart.
• Subtle technical differences in formal and contemporary genres in performance focus, creating volume, using self-compression, facial expressions, vowel lengths, vibrato, the need for mic technique or to fill the hall acoustically, conveying emotion without pushing.
• How “less is more” in contemporary music, while continuity in sound is important in classical music.
• Ways cross training can benefit both contemporary and classical voice.
• Issues students typically have when trying to cross these genres and perform them authentically.
• Using tools such as a trampoline or bosu ball to loosen the body and increase access to breath and tone, as well as a coffee straw or balloon for warming up.
• How 'pulling' helps both contemporary and classical singing.
• How both coaches have improved each other's voices.