How To Un-train Vibrato
I received this question from one of the Fertilizer readers:
How do you un-train vibrato from someone’s voice so they can sing as a worship team vocalist with a mic? I’m auditioning an older lady who has sung for years and wants to join our team. She sings well and hears harmonies by listening to parts being sung around her, which is a great asset to the team. But she has an older-school style, and I told her the challenge will be blending with the other vocalists. Is it okay to say to her that she sings well, but her style doesn’t lend itself well to being on the team? She’s relatively new to our church, and I definitely don’t want to push someone out!
I reached out to Julie Stone, owner of Sopranojam Music Studio. I thought she had some good things to add to this conversation. Here’s what she said.
I just ended a 4-year season of coaching with an older “choir voice” in her 70’s. I learned SO MUCH from working with her!
In 2019, She came in with a heavy “warble.” She was able to significantly reduce her vibrato and extende her range and stamina, which gave her a better ability to blend and sing her desired soprano 2 part in her choral group! She wasn’t looking to learn a contemporary technique (so some vibrato was still okay) but it’s an inspirational story!
So, let me specifically address your reader’s question. There are a few factors here.
Are we talking about an uncontrolled vibrato that happens no matter what? That can often result as we age and our muscle tone lessens as with the student I mentioned above. It may be challenging to fully stabilize the voice and “mold it” into a contemporary style if that is the case. I would recommend a vocal assessment with a coach and possible training for that situation. Even then, though it may improve, it may still not blend super well. So, you may need to have that uncomfortable conversation about just not fitting with the team.
If the vibrato is more a result of using a more “classical” singing technique, then the singer can work towards learning to use a contemporary technique if they can recognize it and are willing to try a different sound and sensation for singing.
I am an example of someone trained classically but who learned to add a new tool to my singing toolbox when I began pursuing a more contemporary technique—less vibrato, more chest mix (i.e., belting), etc.
In the case you referenced, the conversation is going to have to start by asking questions of the singer. If she loves her voice and wants to use it “as is,” she may need to find a different outlet due to style differences. It would potentially be a tough conversation, but it is worth being honest upfront. If you play out that scenario down the road, the worship leader may feel stuck once she’s part of the team, and she may feel unfulfilled because she doesn’t understand why she’s not being utilized in specific ways.
However, if she already knows she sounds different from the voices she’s hearing, she may just need some education to learn a new sound and technique. It won’t happen overnight, but when someone is open, there is a way to discover new singing! A significant mental shift must occur to access this new sound, but it can be done! I don’t think age is a factor, only the mind!
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How would you answer this question? Feel free to post your thoughts below.
-Dave Helmuth
(purchase my book, "Worship Fertilizer: (the first hundred)" HERE)
ps. Julie Stone has been teaching singers of all ages for over 20 years. She attends Mission Church in Lancaster, PA where she serves in worship ministry. She has performed in musical theater, opera, and is a soloist at various events. She is wife of Dan and has 4 children ages 11-18.
Julie's passion is to help her students build confidence through healthy singing technique but also through exposing beliefs and mindsets that the enemy uses to hold God's people back from worshipping Him freely. To that end, she is developing the "Confident SInging Coaching Program" which involves online learning and vocal coaching. You can reach out to her at julie@sopranojam.com
How To Un-train Vibrato (Nº 380)
