How Low Can You Go?

[g-man]

Like Chris, I had classical voice training growing up and through college. I sang Bass in the men's acapella group at the University of Kentucky for a couple of years in college, and when I was a senior in HS I had the lowest and highest notes of anyone in class (falsetto up top of course, but still higher than my girlfriend at the time, one of the sopranos...). My range has been somewhat screwed up since the allergies kicked in here in AZ... like a year ago. The upper range of my chest voice has gotten better with age, but I have lost a considerable bit of the top end falsetto, which is really kinda annoying. I've done the national anthem for a couple dozen retirements/promotions/ceremonies/etc, and really enjoy blowing peoples minds: they never expect that the angry guy sitting in the corner ranting can actually sing.

I used to have days I could sing like Barry Carl or Mr Ravenscroft, but that was usually after a night of bourbon and smokes, and under the current Household 6, cigaretten ist verboten... Most of the time I've just got a good general range and way more volume than people have any clue to expect. The vocal training paid dividends big-time whenever I had D&C stuff to do, since I could 'yell' in command voice nearly all day and not be hoarse like everyone else was by the end of the afternoon.

Being classically trained it makes shows like "American Idol" and 'The Voice' painful at times, as I can hear musical issues which really, really annoy me. Also like Chris, I would say I've got a good to great voice, but not spectacular, which leaves me just doing it for fun, which it still is. The annoying part about the singing shows is that a LOT of the contestants are merely 'meh' to good, not even great. A lot of the time I can honestly say "I'm better than [insert contestant here]", but I know I'm not better than the guys and gals who (sometimes) win, so I could do okay, but it's not something to quit my day job over.

As for recording ones' self: Yes, that is pretty funny. I definitely don't sound the same recorded as I do inside my head...

[skb12172]

Hey g-man, when were you at UK? I have two music degrees from there.

[Denis]

The vocal training paid dividends big-time whenever I had D&C stuff to do, since I could 'yell' in command voice nearly all day and not be hoarse like everyone else was by the end of the afternoon.

I do a lot of public speaking and lecturing. I find my musical training is a big help for exactly the same reason. I can project my voice without straining.

[Yogimus]

The vocal training paid dividends big-time whenever I had D&C stuff to do, since I could 'yell' in command voice nearly all day and not be hoarse like everyone else was by the end of the afternoon.

I do a lot of public speaking and lecturing. I find my musical training is a big help for exactly the same reason. I can project my voice without straining.

Also, it's funny to stop an intesection of people by yelling "halt".

[workinwifdakids]

As far as modern-day singing goes (anything on the radio, essentially), I have to say this: I'd be generous if I said 95% of those people would be boo'd off stage if it weren't for computer enhancement. It's horrible for singing, it's horrible for listening - it's turned us into a nation of people who now think regular singing is off somehow.

So, I think if you have "the look," they'll just run you through auto-tune and away you go. It's over-produced and underwhelming, and that's my rant.

[Denis]

I was a lot louder than the PA even when it was working

Well, you do have the advantage of a rather large resonating body. I bet that was impressive.

Reminds me of one time years ago playing euphonium in an orchestra rehearsal. The conductor said he wanted me to play a particular fanfare-like passage as loud as possible. I asked if he really meant that. He confirmed. When I did play as loud as possible, he rather shamefacedly asked that I play a bit quieter, since he "couldn't hear the orchestra". Sometimes even experienced people have no idea of the volume a trained pair of lungs can put out. I haven't played for years, and I still freak my doctor out when I blow off the scale on her peak-flow tester at my annual physical.

[Cobar]

The vocal training paid dividends big-time whenever I had D&C stuff to do, since I could 'yell' in command voice nearly all day and not be hoarse like everyone else was by the end of the afternoon.

I do a lot of public speaking and lecturing. I find my musical training is a big help for exactly the same reason. I can project my voice without straining.

Same here.

For our caucus here in Idaho in March, we had 800 people packed in a gym, and the PA system wasn't working. Several of the staff tried to shout over the noise of the people to give instructions, and couldn't make themselves heard; so I went into Cadre mode, and started repeating instructions in the parade ground voice.

I was a lot louder than the PA even when it was working

I can do the same. It has become a habit when someone is ineffectually calling for someone else I just automatically do it for them. Like grabbing something off the top shelf for someone straining to reach. As for singing, I like to joke that I can only hit 3 notes and all of them are off key.

[Greg]

RACIST!

Dude, he's Irish. The pot don't get much blacker than that.

Not to mention that the Irish are the blacks of Europe, and the Dubliners are the blacks of Ireland.

(Extra GC cred points to anybody other than DubJames and Chris who gets the quote...)

Actually I always saw the Irish as the Arabs of the North.

[Windy Wilson]

As far as modern-day singing goes (anything on the radio, essentially), I have to say this: I'd be generous if I said 95% of those people would be boo'd off stage if it weren't for computer enhancement. It's horrible for singing, it's horrible for listening - it's turned us into a nation of people who now think regular singing is off somehow.

So, I think if you have "the look," they'll just run you through auto-tune and away you go. It's over-produced and underwhelming, and that's my rant.

My mother was trained in light opera in St. Louis before she came to California to marry and raise three boys who, regrettably never cared for her singing. I can only recall, from when I was growing up, two singers whom she did not complain about being unable to sing or were overrated as singers. One was Dean Martin, and one was a boy from my high school who has several CD's on Amazon.

[Rod]

The vocal training paid dividends big-time whenever I had D&C stuff to do, since I could 'yell' in command voice nearly all day and not be hoarse like everyone else was by the end of the afternoon.

I do a lot of public speaking and lecturing. I find my musical training is a big help for exactly the same reason. I can project my voice without straining.

I learned to be heard over the noise of 4 tank and 5 apc engines. Then I taught high school. On a good day, I can be heard at least 2 blocks away and rarely have to use a microphone when I speak in public.