The Prof Says

Vocal coaches are a critical
component to working out your
singing kinks.

Randy Moomaw
For BMA vocal coach Sharon Rowntree, singing is a deeply rooted part of shaping each day she takes to task. It’s a driving creative force that’s as second nature as each beat of her heart and every breath she takes.

The native Aussie lived in Sydney until moving to Queensland on the Gold Coast four years ago to be closer to her mother and brother. “I have always sung from a very early age,” she said. “I was always called upon to perform when my Mum had guests over. I sang in every singing group at school and performed in many of their musicals. From the time I left school. I worked regularly in theatre restaurants and tribute shows.”

Rich Musical History
She studied music as an elective in school and performed in every music event possible while pursuing her studies. At age 16 she began taking private lessons, and at age 19 landed her professional gig. She studied for three with Bob Tasman Smith, voice coach for Australian artists John Farnham and Julie Anthony. She also spent five years studying with Leigh Macrae (www.vocalmastery.com). In addition Sharon became a Level 4 teacher of the L.A. method eight years, traveling to California for study, singing camps, and teacher workshops. She also achieved musical grades 3, 4, and 5 through accreditation by the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney, Australia.

Popular Entertainer
Aside from her teaching commitment as a BMA coach, Sharon is a busy mother and popular entertainer, starring in her tribute to legendary singer, Dusty Springfield, and other diva’s of the 60’s.

“I have a husband, David and two wonderful children, Jessica, 19, and Joel, 17 and our puppy, Angel, who is now seven,” she said. “I am really lucky because Jess sings and performs with me when I do my Dusty and Friends show. I teach in my Studio at home which is attached to my house so I can pop in and say hi when they get home from work, Uni (University) or School.”

Sharon took time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions about her journey to becoming a Brett Manning Associate and the places Brett’s method has taken her as a teacher and performer.

Q + A
SSO: How did you first hear about Brett and his programs? What was your initial response or feeling before diving in?

Sharon: I knew about Brett years ago. Don’t know why I took so long to join him. I was so impressed with Singing Success and all the programs available that before I knew it I was on a plane to Nashville and have never looked back.

Creativity + Freedom
SSO: What impact has Brett’s teaching had on you as a teacher and performer?

Sharon: Brett is so creative with his approach it has definitely freed my teaching up. You focus on the sound you can make, and you don’t get hung up on trying to sing. When you concentrate on sounding like something or someone, you just get all messed up. You use the wrong muscles and lose the feeling and soul in your sound. Brett also offers products and resources! I learn something new everyday just by going over the online lessons, such as Mastering Vibrato, Jesse Nemitz’s Top 7 Secrets of the Super-High Mix Voice…the list goes on.

SSO: What are the biggest changes in your voice that have come from training with Brett and his associates?

Sharon: I have always had a good voice, but Brett has taken me to the next level, I now have the extra power and strength throughout my range. That was not possible before. I can now tackle Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand – any of the great divas, and I’m able to control how much power I need to not only feel the song but also sound authentic.

SSO: What impact has the training had on things like your confidence, song selection, warming up, rehearsal, and discipline as a performer?

Sharon: I am a big believer in not only being able to teach my students how to do it, but to also show them how it’s done. From a song selection perspective, I merely use whatever key the original artist used; and just sing it, confident that I can hit every note, every time. I even use the warm up CD’s as a discipline to make sure that I am fully prepared each time I take the stage.

More Relaxed + More Confident
SSO: What are the biggest differences Brett’s method has made in your approach to teaching?

Sharon: I am much more relaxed and confident. I love the wealth of resources for teachers. I love watching the online lessons. I don’t think there is a day that goes by that I’m not listening to either Mastering Mix or watching some of the online lessons. I have freed my mind to learn more and more, I am addicted to learning while absorbing as much information as I can. Brett’s creativity with his exercises has even rubbed off on me. I find myself now being far more creative than ever before, and much freer in my teaching. But I think the biggest change for me has been how quickly I am able to get my students

Rowntree Rocks And Also Rules When Australian Brett Manning Associate Vocal Coach

Can YOU sing like an American Idol? 
If not, are YOU Teachable?
Here are just a few “Singing Success” Stories

“For the first time in my singing career, singing is now as easy as speaking. Thank you Singing Success and thank you Brett Manning.”
          Lyndon Barrington Allen
          Dove Award Nominee
 

“Brett possesses a fully integrated knowledge and systematic approach to developing a healthy, natural sound, combined with a wonderful artistic sensibility, keen ear and positive approach. Brett is my first and only voice teacher. Since studying with him I have added over a half octave to my voice and feel an easy release throughout my entire vocal range. I can recommend Brett to professionals at the top of their game, as well as those taking their first steps to discovering their potential and everyone in between.”
          Steve Cosmo Mallardi
          Broadway Musical Director:
          Les Miserables and Jekyll and Hyde

SING your way to success!!

Mr. Manning,
I’m sure that I don’t have to tell you how incredible your program is. I just feel like I need to share something with you, about my recent experience with it. Again, I have no doubt that you hear similar stories all of the time, however…I just purchased your Singing Success Course three weeks ago. I have had significant vocal damage over the last two years due to GERD, and had lost approximately four notes from my upper range, which is the original reason I ordered your program. After listening to your video and the Introduction CD, I was convinced that your system could help me. I then began my “therapy” using Lesson One of the technique sessions. I was only allowing myself to practice 10 minutes a day for the first week. Then, as I began to feel better, I began extending the time. I now do two 20 minute sessions a day, with a half hour break in between. I moved on to Lesson Two yesterday and then went out to Karaoke with my friends that evening. I planned to only sing one song with an easy range.Well, I ended up singing three songs with absolutely no pain! Additionally, my last song was Bridge Over Troubled Water (the Simon and

Is Usually It Possible To Sing Better?

American Idol is ready to kick off another season, and men and women young and old across America are getting the “bug” to better their own vocal skills.  We have a video for you below, but first, allow me to make a familiar but often overlooked point:

“Great vocal control knows no musical boundaries.”

What do I mean by that?  When you learn to sing properly; with strong voice control, appropriate power, head and chest voice mix…the whole gamut of excellent vocalizing; when you learn to do that well, you can mix and match your vocal styles, even when they are normally rather divergent in style.  For instance, my daughter Hannah, is being classically trained, but she currently has no real aspirations to become an opera singer.  Her background is musical theater and pop.  She also has an interest in contemporary Christian music as well as hymns.  She auditioned this fall for a spot on the Worship Band for a large college age Christian Christmas conference in San Diego during the Christmas break.   She earned her spot and was both excited and a bit nervous.  Why?  Well, for the last year and a half she has been learning to sing in a classical style and she wondered whether it would be difficult to switch over and not hurt her voice, grow hoarse and more.  The outcome?  She sounded fantastic, had

Vocal Performance Around Styles

Are you a
Singer?  A
Songwriter?
Or Both?
Spring is the season for blossoming and blooming and for planting the fall harvest. But it’s also the perfect time to think about setting some seriously creative ideas into motion for harvesting a bountiful profit with your singing and songwriting.
Spring and summer are a time for weddings, family reunions, corporate retreats; business meetings, as well as community gatherings. Music can play a vital part in making these events memorable, unique, special, fun, and moving.
Set some time aside to put together a list of local businesses, community centers, schools, places of worship, associations, organizations, along with businesses and services that currently cater to special occasions, meetings, retreats, and events in your area.
A Business Plan
Then, put together a personal business plan for presenting yourself as a special events singer or singer-songwriter. Seriously evaluate what resources would be needed to fully operate on your own as you serve at a variety of venues, situations, and gatherings.
Consider technical challenges, travel issues, insurance concerns, safety concerns – don’t hold back. Anything that you feel plays a factor in determining your potential success must be noted so that you can weigh the risks against the potential return on your investment.
Sailing Local Business Partnerships
Also consider the local businesses that provide space for special events or that supply needs for special events as potential partners to approach with your services. For example, flower shops, gift shops, and party suppliers, could seriously benefit from the added value of music.
Flower shops appeal to the emotional needs of people dealing with grief through funerals and sickness. They also handle flustered appeals from people facing a special wedding anniversary, going away parties, birthday parties, class reunions, summer church school groups, senior citizen dances, graduation parties, veterans group get-together’s, mothers day events, special business meetings, local government gatherings – the list is endless, but for many, the

Singing Tips: Option Knocks For Singers