No, but your voice can make sound in different ways.
The vocal folds (vocal cords) are complex and able to vibrate in a number of modes.
The terms 'head voice' and 'chest voice' date back hundreds of years, to a time when there was very little understanding of how the voice worked. These days, with modern scientific research, we have a much clearer idea of how we make sound, so we know that 'head voice' and 'chest voice' no longer accurately describe what's happening. As a result, these terms are gradually falling out of use by voice professionals.
Some teachers and singers still use the words 'head' and 'chest' to describe the voice, but it's hard to pin down exactly what they mean. The main problem (as I'm sure you'll realise from the wealth of 'information' on the net!) is that there's no consensus - some say there are two 'registers' (Head and Chest), others three (Head, Chest and Mixed), some four (Chest, Mixed, Head, Falsetto).
The major problem with 'head' and 'chest' is that it suggests that the sound production mechanism changes position from somewhere in the chest to somewhere in the head - which it clearly doesn't! Sound is always made by the vocal folds (cords) in the larynx (voice box) - which is in the throat!
Confused? I'm sure you are!
Fortunately, Estill Voice Training™ can simplify things for you. By focusing on the physical production of the voice, rather than imagery, EVT™ will explain exactly what happens - and allow you to control it. Whatever you call it - Head, Chest, Mixed, Falsetto - each sound can be precisely defined in terms of how the vocal folds are vibrating.
In Estill Voice Training™, the singer is taught to understand that many components are involved in producing sound, each one interacting with every other. In this 'Dynamical System', certain conditions become easier than others at certain pitches and the voice is attracted to slip into these conditions - sometimes without the singer realising it!
To non-Estill singers, these attractor states are known as 'registers'. In other words, registers are convenient compromises. The challenge for an Estill-trained singer is to learn how to maintain the conditions that produce a certain sound beyond the limits of its attractor state.
By understanding how the voice works, Estill Voice Training™ replaces the vague and inexact concepts of Head voice and Chest voice with a precise understanding of the vocal folds and how they vibrate - giving the singer complete control.
As a Certified Master Teacher, Andy Follin can explain how to allow the voice to move effortlessly through the range - with or without a change in sound.
Andy is a professional vocal coach, not a school teacher or piano teacher doing a few singing lessons in their spare time. Unlike a lot of voice teachers, Andy does not insist on long-term tuition, where students have to attend regular lessons, repeating the same exercises until their voice improves. You can attend as often as you like, but there's no compulsion to attend every week or every fortnight. In fact, many students only book sessions every 4 to 6 weeks.
Estill Voice Training™ is known for producing quick results. Quite often, Andy finds that long-standing problems can be fixed in the first few lessons. At your first session, Andy will give you an assessment of your abilities and draw up a plan that ensures you get to where you want to be, as quickly as possible.
If you're ready to take your voice to the next level, book a lesson with Andy today (see bottom of page).
Andy runs studios in St Helens and Manchester, so is ideally located for students in the Liverpool, Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire areas. Please check out the separate pages for students from Liverpool, Warrington, Widnes / Runcorn, Wigan, Cheshire, Lancashire and North Wales.
Manchester studio
£37.50 for 45 minutes, £50 for 1 hour
Manchester studio teaching hours
St Helens studio
£25 for 30 minutes, £37.50 for 45 minutes, £50 for 1 hour
St Helens studio teaching hours
To book a session with Andy, you need to put down a deposit of £25. This is to cover the studio costs in case of late cancellation.
The £25 will be deducted from the first lesson fee.
Simply click on the button below and follow the Paypal transaction instructions. Once you've paid, Andy will contact you to arrange a suitable time for your lesson.
Please note: Students must give a minimum of 48 hours' notice should they need cancel a lesson. Giving less than 48 hours' notice will mean the full cost of that lesson will be charged. Additionally, if a student forgets a scheduled lesson or is late (regardless of reason, including illness) the full cost of the lesson will still be charged.