Gc Boy, aka, Rich W

" I have been a singer for all of my life. Styles have included pop, country, and gospel music. I have taken some private lessons with other popular vocal coaches. Nothing ever really changed; I still had the same struggles and issues. I had been diagnosed with two cysts underneath my right vocal fold and that I should just learn to live with my voice as it is because I have used it and over-used it throughout my life and this was what I should expect to live with. I was not prepared to take that news lying down. Those of you who know me, know I do not take "no" for an answer and have not throughout my life. I wasn't about to take that kind of news when it came down to one of the most precious gifts God has given me, my voice.

So, this past week, I had the opportunity to fly to Toronto and study with the world-renowned vocal instructor, Diana Yampolsky of Vocal Science and the Royans Professional Voice Institute. I had known about the Royans and Ms. Yampolsky for several years but was never able to attend. Seasons in my life had now changed and I was able to consider making the trip and investment.

I have to admit, upon first hour or two I was skeptical of this approach. However, somewhere in hour three or four, I was beginning to get a new concept of what was happening. My voice was becoming stronger. I could tell first in my speaking voice. After the hours of training, I was not tired. I was actually stronger and my voice started to have the "spark" that I had been missing. Hour by hour over the few days I was there things were improving. My vocal apparatus was not only stronger but my mental conception of what to do to stay in the "sweet spot" was also sharpening. I was actually understanding what was going on.

When I left that day I knew I wasn't totally cured in a mere few days, but I was stronger and had the tools now to improve. Diana teaches in a scientific method of how the mind, body, and emotions all come together to produce sound. It really works !! I have further to go on this journey and will use these tools to continue building where she laid a foundation for me.

A side note--this past weekend I experimented in live concert with a couple notes from "up there" I hadn't been able to do without struggle previously. I sang them, with very little effort. I was thrilled. I will cautiously continue to implement what I was taught and gently experiment with implementing it into my singing.