What is Speech Level Singing?

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Chuck

What is Speech Level Singing? This is a question many people have asked or tried to
explain. There’re a lot of opinions about Speech Level Singing both good and bad.

Find out all about it inside this video.

First, I’m NOT an official spokesperson for Speech Level Singing. I’m not authorized to
speak on behalf of Speech Level Singing.

I’m sharing this information about Speech Level Singing because it’s had a huge impact on
my singing and my life.

I began studying the technique as a singer in late 1996. In 1997 I studied to be a teacher.
Since 2009 I’ve been a full time certified teacher of the Speech Level Singing Technique.

The last 3 years between 10-20 teachers from all over the world have had the privilege of
attending 10 days of training yearly with Seth Riggs in his home and studio.

Definition of Speech Level Singing – The Technique

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Speech Level Singing, also known as
SLS, is both a singing technique and
an organization. The technique was
developed by Seth Riggs. In his book,
“Singing for The Stars”, he defines
Speech Level Singing as:

“Generally, when you speak in a

quiet, comfortable manner, the outer
muscles do not interfere with the
functioning of your larynx. That’s
because tone is not your main
concern–communication is.
Therefore, your larynx is allowed to
rest in a relatively stable, or what we
call a speech-level position. This is
the ideal vocal condition or posture
with which to sing.” (Singing for the
Stars pp. 93. Alfred Publishing Co.,
Revised Edition)

[Seth’s] …”technique is called speech-level

signing, which allows you to sing with the
same comfortable, easily produced voice you
use or should use, when you speak. No matter
if you sing high or low, loud or soft, nothing
feels different in your throat or mouth. Your
tone and the words you sing always feel
natural to you, and sound natural to your
audience.” (Ibid pp.7)

Seth Riggs Defines Speech Level Singing

Seth recently gave this simple definition. “Speech Level Singing is the refusal to reach.”

SLS trains you not to reach for high pitches which means the larynx stays at a speech level
position. This allows the vocal cords to adjust as the pitches go up or down without
disconnecting.

That means the cords stay connected, so you have no breaks, cracks, breathiness or
falsetto no matter how high or low you sing.
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There’s no interruption in the tone quality because the voice is balanced. There’s no
tension or squeeze from the external (or outer) neck muscles.

This produces great singing. The vocal cords develop their own intrinsic power because the
larynx is staying down and there’s no interference from the swallowing muscles.

In recent years Seth has placed an added emphasis on breathing with the assistance of the
diaphragm. This low breath creates the friendly “compression of support”.

The most famous student of Speech Level Singing is probably Michael Jackson. He worked
with Seth for the last 25 years of his life. There are many others including, Stevie Wonder,
Barbra Streisand, Josh Groban, Liza Minnelli, Ann Margaret and on and on.

Definition of Speech Level Singing – The Organization

Before the organization of SLS as a company Seth trained teachers and designated them
as a “Seth Riggs Associate”. This is what I did in the summer of 1997. However, I had
another career at the time and would only teach occasionally. I was more involved with the
technique as a student, singer and performer.

In the mid-2000’s Speech Level Singing was founded as a company with Seth as the CEO.
Under Seth there’ve been several presidents of SLS. Currently the organization is without a
president.

SLS as a company has trained thousands of singers, hundreds who certified as teachers of
the technique. This was done by Master Teachers designated by Seth. Teachers could
enter the training program as a “Pre-Cert”, meaning a pre-certified teacher who was in
training. Teachers could progress through the training and advance from Pre-Cert to Level
1, then 2, on up to level 5.

Since 2013 until currently which is July 2016, SLS has had no teacher level designations.
Seth repeatedly has said, “I’m a level 1”. Meaning he’s always learning, growing and
improving. (But if he’s a level 1 what am I?)

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For various reasons there’s been breakups and break-offs from SLS by various groups of
leaders and teachers.

Speech Level Singing-Past Associates and Leaders

Brett Manning, founder of Singing Success, was an early

Seth Riggs Associate. Dave Stroud, who served as the
first President of SLS, now is President of VocalizeU.
International Voice Teachers of Mix (IVTOM) was
founded by Dean Kaelin, who was my primary teacher
and mentor for many years.

The Institute for Vocal Advancement (IVA) has Jeffrey

Skouson, past president of SLS, serving as President, with
many former SLS Master Teachers carrying various
responsibilities in the organization, including teacher
training and certification.

There are many other teachers who’ve reached

very high levels of teaching with Seth that were
before my time still teaching in various places in
the world.

Since 2013, SLS has not been accepting new

teacher applications.

Impact of Speech Level Singing on My Voice

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One of the remarkable experiences I’ve had at various teacher training meetings through
the years is the testimonials from the other teachers.

Almost without fail, every teacher had a major vocal problem that the Speech Level Singing
Technique has solved. I’ve been inspired by their many stories of how SLS changed their
lives.

Personally, I couldn’t sing past the E above middle C. And singing the E was marginal to
mediocre. I stumbled onto SLS when I attended a workshop with Seth Riggs in November
1996 and began studying with his associate at the time, Debra Bonner.

Within 6 weeks I was singing notes I never dreamed I could sing, with vibrato, which I’d
never had. The amazing thing for me was learning how to bridge, to sing from my chest
voice through the middle, and into head voice without having to go into falsetto or extreme
strain!

Speech Level Singing as a singing technique and a training organization has been an
amazing experience that continues to bless my life.

In an upcoming video, I’ll share more about Seth.

Speech Level Singing and Vocal Types

Vocal type is one of the many things I’ve learned that’s helped me understand my voice and
the voices of students I teach.

In order to really focus on what helps students improve quickly it’s vital to understand their
vocal type.

Do you know your vocal type? I’m not referring to your vocal classification of soprano, alto,
tenor or bass.

Your vocal type is what you tend to do when you sing. Visit PowerToSing.com and take the
vocal test, which I call the PowerTest. Take the quiz and discover your vocal type.

Then visit the Knowledge Center and watch all the videos about your vocal type. Download
the free exercises and start working on your voice. The exercises for your vocal type are
designed to help you progress rapidly.

I’m Chuck Gilmore with Power To Sing. You can sing higher with beauty, confidence and
power.

I’ll see you inside the next video.

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