1. Do I need to be a singer already to benefit from the course?
If you don’t consider yourself a ‘singer’, it is still possible to benefit from the overtone singing course, especially in terms of the ‘automatic’ therapeutic elements. It also depends on your goals. If you wish to explore singing more seriously in your life, it is a good place to start. Perhaps the best option for you, if you are not sure of how far you want to pursue your voice, is to start with private Skype sessions. Then you can make an informed decision about your future. I also recommend the self-research training in the free eBook- ‘Tone your Way to Inner Revelation’, for anyone serious about exploring their voice in depth.
2. The instructor is a female. What if I am a male?
I have taught many men in the past twenty years with great results. The instructions are generally the same for both genders. Any differentiations are clearly identified. Where notation is provided, it is available in your voice range. Specifically, males, with their lower fundamental pitch, are able to audibly isolate overtones in the higher portion of the harmonic series. Females, using higher fundamentals are able to emphasize the lower part of the harmonic series. Generally, there is an area of overlap between male and female voices, where they can produce the same overtones clearly.
3. Will this training interfere with other styles of vocal training I have taken / am taking?
While some of the techniques may contain unfamiliar practices, this is to be expected in order to sing clear and distinct overtones. The practice of overtone singing serves to enhance one’s ‘normal’ singing voice, regardless of style or genre. It can open up a wider range of tonal color available for other kinds of vocal expression. I believe that, given the ‘tools’, experimentation and an open mind may really assist the singer to find his/ her own unique voice.
4. What if I don’t have any knowledge of music theory?
While some awareness/ knowledge of intervals and reading notation is definitely an asset in the study of overtone singing, it is not crucial, but it depends on your specific goals. Links to excellent resources for studies of these topics are given on the website. Without any musical theory background, part 1 is designed so that those without such skills may still benefit.
5. How much will I have to practice?
There is no question that in order to master the art of overtone singing, one must be dedicated. Progress is made through continuous practice and experimentation. It takes discipline. It is an ongoing process that evolves over years. This course serves as a ‘launching pad’ of self- discovery. With that being said, during the three month study program, it is recommended that you follow the schedule guidelines in order to receive the best results. This is a usually a minimum of 20 minutes per day, in some cases longer, depending on the exercises.
6. Do you guarantee I will be able to do advanced overtone singing by the end of the course?
As stated above, it may take years to master overtone singing. If you discover yourself to be a ‘natural’ at this, obviously you might advance quickly. No, there is no guarantee. As time goes on, however, referring back to the lessons periodically may expedite good results.
7. What if I can already sing overtones and I’m ready to learn more advanced techniques? Can I start at a later point in the course?
In my experience, every other teacher of overtone singing I have encountered has a different approach to teaching. Some ‘teachers’ even claim that they can teach you all you need to know in 5 minutes or less! As this course moves forward into parts 2 and 3, it is important that the information in part 1 is understood. Otherwise, some confusion might result in the techniques being used. If you are studying by private Skype sessions, adjustments may be made according to individual requirements and former experience.
8. Can children take this course?
This course is designed for adults. As for the exact age of ‘adulthood’, this is not to be considered a ‘legal’ age, but mostly in terms of maturity!
9. If I complete the whole course, can I automatically become a virtual online member of the overtone choir Auralia?
Upon completion of the course, you may audition (by video) to become a virtual online member of Auralia. Choir singing is different from singing solo in pop, rock or jazz (for example), so you need to demonstrate this blending quality in your voice. The compositions that you would be singing with Auralia as a member would vary according to the type of singing required for each voice range. In some cases, your part would be ‘normal’ choral singing, and in other cases, it would involve overtone singing. So it all depends on how well you can sing the required parts. The joy of joining in, regardless of the simplicity or complexity of your part, is in the overall beauty in the blending of ‘normal’ singing with overtone singing in a choral setting. You can be a part of some ground breaking musical collaborations!
