Any career can benefit from referencing how it was done in the past—or, who else is doing it now. And so it, is in the development of a singer, as well as an attorney.Lawyers must know caselaw: The law as established by the outcome of former cases. Law may be the antithesis of art; however, I believe that singers and lawyers need to reference the past so as to build a strong foundation for their future.
I believe the best-sounding, most creative singers are those who have been exposed to the most diverse music from all periods and all styles.
Parents of five year olds who love to sing often ask me to train their children's voices. First, no ethical singing teacher would attempt to "train" a voice so young, because their vocal apparatus is immature and vulnerable to damage. I recommend that parents fill a child's life with all kinds of recorded and live music, and find ways to nurture interest in singing and playing other instruments.
Children develop an appetite for what they see and hear the most, and children learn everything by imitating. They may imitate Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, or whatever voice fills the atmosphere in which they live. My best advice is to fill that atmosphere with quality, diverse music.
Some parents cannot make the time to nurture a child's interest in music. In that case, if I were to work with a very young child, I would introduce healthy vocal expression, write songs with her, listen to a variety of great singing from my library, and play musical games. There is plenty of time to "train" a child's voice. My recommendations train the "musical mind" of a child. The body is a singer's instrument. It is played with the mind. Mind rules!
If you've observed the courtroom performance of a very sharp lawyer, you were watching the physical expression of a well-trained mind. Like the singer/musician, the lawyer developed his style from a strong foundation of knowledge and the influence of others.
