Rating: 
Summary: Great help, but not flawless
Review: I bought this book some 2 years ago, simply to increase my vocal range (I'm a tenor) and had a very hard time singing above a G above middle C or below a C below middle C, only by yelling at the top of my lungs I was able to scream a tenor high C#.
After 1 month of following the technique I was able to vocalize up to F above tenor high C and down to C two octaves below middle C...but still that required effort.
Truly the technique is great, but it doesn't truly focuses on the importance of vocal support, which truly holds it all together.
I since then taken vocal lessons in bel canto and I can vocalize over 4 octaves now (C two octaves below middle C to Eb above soprano high C) and usually able to perform ALWAYS at least 3 octaves thanks to the mix of speech level singing and bel canto.
The truth is that learning the technique by yourself is great to increase your range, but it cannot replace a real voice teacher to guide you through and to advice you and correct you and give you feedback.
I recommned this book greatly, but I don't think it replaces a real voice teacher with you.
Rating: 
Summary: I think Tom McKinney should have given it five stars
Review: I have been trying to figure out why one of the commentators on here, Tom McKinney, only gave this book/CD a 3 star rating, and yet claims, "This book is the best introduction to singing and continuing healthy voice production ever written." McKinney claims this book/CD was the basis of his success, and yet he only gives it a 3-star rating? What's up with that, I can't figure it out. His comments are a lot of hot air, full of his own ego, blathering away about his own accomplishments, looks like. Well I bought this book and CD, because almost everybody else gave it a five star rating, and it is a really good set, I think it deserves five stars, and not because Tom McKinney used this web site to promote himself. I've never even heard of Tom McKinney. Does he even exist?
Rating:
Summary: The best source available for improving your range!
Review: I started studying Speech Level Singing about six months ago. All I can say is I've had amazing results since I've started. Before I started this program, I really couldn't sing anything above an F# above middle C. Now, I'm vocalizing above Tenor High E without having to flip into falsetto! Of course, this book is not meant to be a substitute for studying with an actual certified SLS teacher, but it is an excellent source of information to refer to.
Regarding the earlier customer review about Madonna's nodules, Madonna stopped studying with Seth Riggs while she was working on EVITA because Andrew Lloyd Webber wanted her to use a vocal technique that was abusive to her voice. Madonna's nodules are an example of what happens when you throw good technique out the window.
Speech Level Singing can be applied to any genre of music, whether it be classical or pop, and it will protect your voice!
Rating:
Summary: Clear, To the point, Helpful
Review: I studied classical voice for years but when I found a teacher certified in Seth Riggs speech level singing technique I made progress I hadn't thought possible! I got this book as an adjunct to my lessons and I found that it was clear, precise, easy to understand, and above all-- very, very helpful!The excersises will help you sing through your bridges easily and confidently. Your voice will thank you!
Rating:
Summary: I saw an improvement the first week!
Review: I used to sing rock & roll, forcing my chest voice into my head range rather than using my head voice, and had never learned to use my head voice. I always considered myself a contralto and figured my head voice was mostly useless. After just the first lesson with this method I was able to feel the difference between using my head voice and forcing my chest voice up and was amazed at how hard I used to work to hit those notes. Now, four months later, I can actually sing mezzo soprano with quite a bit of ease. I am now able to cross my switch point going up without hanging onto the chest voice, and going down it's become seamless. And I haven't even done all the lessons yet! There are some lessons I am unable to do properly because I have never been able to trill my tongue, but there are enough lessons that muddling past those has not been a problem. I would highly recommend this to ANYONE who has trouble with their head voice and/or their switch point!!!
Rating:
Summary: This is the BEST book on singing I've seen.
Review: I've read just about every book on singing and this one is the best! Written in plain English, this book is easy to understand and the exercises actually work. But stick with it, it took me months to see results but I ended up being able to sing way up into my head voice (no falsetto). For male singers, true head voice is rare. Just look at the singers that he's taught, from Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder to opera singers, everyone raves about Seth! This book comes with two cassettes with examples of the vocal exercises. Use them and you can't go wrong. Unfortunately, I had to un-learn all the bad habits taught to me by many so called professional teachers. Get this book and you can't help but improve.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, But Definitely Overrated
Review: It's not that Seth doesn't know what he's talking about, it's that he thinks he knows everything. This method will NOT turn an untrained singer into an Opera singer. It bothers me how Seth makes it seem like his students are the best singers, they're not! (And if they are is not totally because of him) Most of them are no more than average vocalists. This book will be beneficial to those untrained singers who have a good voice (and can carry a tune). And also to trained singers. What it will do for you is teach you that singing should not involve the straining of muscles. Don't believe that he is the best voice teacher of America, any good teacher knows that when singing should not be a strenuous activity and that the larynx should remain relaxed (what he means by the "Speech-Level Singing" euphemism. The vocalizes in this book are very valuable... they lead you to a relaxed approach of singing, just make sure to discard any arrogance you sense, he is right about most of the things he is saying (that voice teachers tell you do this and that instead of teaching you how to do it) but breath support and management are important, understanding the concepts of resonance are important as well... and yes it's true, they are over-emphasized by many. It is also true that good vocal technique should be applicable to any style of singing. What is important when you sing is that 1. you are not risking your vocal health and 2. that you sound good. If you are into pop, dig into the book. If you want to sing better without a voice teacher, dig into the book. If you can't get into your head voice, dig into the book. IF YOU SING WITH STRAIN, dig into the book. Don't believe ONLY what Seth has to say, his stuff is very valuable, but it's not everything. If you are a serious singer who uses mind over matter this program will help you.
Rating:
Summary: Singing with Freedom!
Review: My vocal coach told me to get this book & cds and to use it between lessons. I have learned to sing into my head voice and can handle my 'breaks' with ease! I highly recommend the book..the exercises are simple and he gives demonstrations for each of them. I have made great progress because of his "Speech Level Singing" technique!
Rating:
Summary: Singing with Freedom!
Review: My vocal coach told me to get this book & cds and to use it between lessons. I have learned to sing into my head voice and can handle my 'breaks' with ease! I highly recommend the book..the exercises are simple and he gives demonstrations for each of them. I have made great progress because of his "Speech Level Singing" technique!
Rating:
Summary: What every singer has been looking for.!
Review: Seth Riggs is undoubtedly the best vocal trainer in the world.
If you think of the greatest singers in the world, Riggs has more than likely taught a few of them.
This book is user friendly especially with the cds, however not for the faint hearted! I've been singing for over ten years and the exercises are hard work even though they look easy.
No 1 recommendation for those who want to smooth over the 'break' in their chest to head voice and also extend your range.
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