Thanks a lot man. I think I'm going to get Kevin's program for Christmas.I think each program that I've seen has strengths and weaknesses. I can use RYV for more powerful high notes. One thing I notices is that in one of the sample clips for BTC he does a Minor Minor Mine exercise that Jim Gillett taught on the Vocal Power tape that I used to have. Yeah, I had it on vhs.LOL! I need to get a new dvd copy.

Well, I don´t have Gillette´s method but I think I read here or somewhere else that he uses some of his exercises, like the killer solfege one. As I mentioned earlier I think he likes to combine several methologies and uses the exercises he can identify as the best for his students to get results. It´s a good program, maybe not essential, but really cool, and Kevin is a nice guy.

It really sounds like something I can use. I sing a LOT of different kinds of music: country, rock, pop, folkie stuff. The heaviest stuff I like to sing is like classic rock ala: Boston, Journey, Led Zep, Aerosmith. I just don't know how to do it without killing my voice. Thanks for letting me know.

Thanks to all of you for reviewing and critiquing my vocal course.

To answer your questions;
yes I use some exercises from Jim Gillette's Vocal Power. It was the first vocal program I ever bought (way back in 1988 on cassette!) and for the most part it is very effective. The bad part of it was Jim never demonstrated the whole exercise nor explained what the exercise helped achieve. I fixed that problem in BTC. Before I added them to BTC I personally emailed, then spoke to Jim on the phone and asked his permission. He gave me the 100% thumbs up and liked that I would continue their use in an even better capacity. He told me that a few of the "Vocal Power" exercises are actually very old Bel Canto exercises so he holds no claim to them.

There is some standard SLS in there for the mixed voice stuff because I think its the most effective way to teach to not "pull chest" into head voice. But I only used what I considered would work quickly.

I took my inspiration for how I out together BTC from Bruce Lee. He was a massive student of martial arts from every culture throughout history. When he created his method of Jeet Kune Do, he took what he considered the best and most effective techniques of every fighting style and disregarded the rest. That was my goal for BTC. I studied Bel Canto, strict SLS, CVT and about 6 others including some Japanese singing techniques. I looked at what I felt were the most effective exercises and culled them together with a few of my own creations and made BTC.

To address the light, high notes; I have a very low baritone voice. The voice you hear in my videos and on the course is a slightly "manufactured" pitch. I speak slightly higher than my normal voice to make it more clear and clean for explanations etc. Its actually quite low, so high notes will sound thinner and lighter than people with higher speaking voices. The higher your speaking voice, the more "chesty" your high notes will sound.

I was told that someone liked my course but didn't like that I was strong supporter of the Republican party. That's actually not true. I don't fully support any party. I have a lot of problems with the Republicans and Democrats. But if I'm forced to choose in an election I mainly side on the Right. But I have voted for Democrats in local elections, if they were upstanding people and believed in fair justice and the individual. That's pretty tough to find here in NYC! Either way t should have NO standing in my singing or teaching. We're all the same in the respect. We love singing. Who cares who we vote for? I don't care who my students support. Just get out there and sing!

Rock On!
Kevin Richards
http://www.rockthestagenyc.com

1. There is nothing wrong with the way Kevin hits his high notes. I think he sounds great. My tone is just loud because I naturally sing loud, but I can sing light too if needed. Some people have asked me if I am so loud because I am a major downard support advocate where others, such as SLS users are not. Nope that has nothing to do with it. My downwards support has nothing to do with any type of force or excess breath and anyone who thinks so, just doesn't understand the method. In fact, as you all know, I believe in minimal breath release. Again, everyone is different as a singer and a coach, which is why I support so many coaches.

2. Jim is one of my closest friends, and I know that the reason he didn't demonstrate the exercises all the way up is because Jim has a different tone than most and he was afraid people would try to emulate his tone. He can do all the notes. In fact, I train his kids and have used the Vocal power exercises for years, as well when I am teaching. They are great and work wonders. I have full permission to carry on as the guy to do the VP exercises, but I have elected not to add them to a program. Might stick a few of them in a future book;)

3. Singing is about singing, not politics. If Kevin's program were to help a person, I wouldn't care if he were a Democrat or Republican.

4. Now Kevin, start sending me your products, because I am getting ready to start reviewing products again in January since we are updating the site;)

What if he was an independent? Would he still be able to teach then? hahaha! Just kidding guys. Rock on.

I really like the program, I think it's awesome.

I just bought the downloadable version of the program about 20 minutes ago. I can't wait to check it out!

I just got the program. I've read most of the e-book and listened to both cds. I gotta say that I think the program is awesome so far. I can't wait to start working with it. Kevin really did a professional job. Everything is well laid out and organized. His teaching style is just right for me. I guess being a nerd my whole life, I need things explained to me in a pretty good amount of detail. Thanks Kevin!

Good to hear Ben. If I would live anywhere near New York I would book some personal lessons. (I have taken some oversea Skype lessons with other teacher but they are quite not the same thing)

I've been working on the program for about a week now and have already noticed significant improvement in the quality of my tone. I didn't realize how much tension I was singing with. I was trying to sing much higher than my voice was ready for. I don't have that tired voice feeling all the time now. I highly recommend this course. One thing I like about it is that Kevin focuses on master chest voice completely before moving to head-voice. I think that makes so much sense though a lot of vocal courses seem not to put much emphasis on it. Kevin has distilled and taken the best from his own experience and other singing methods and put it into what looks like a pretty complete vocal program to me.

I do both discs in one session with RYV ;)

I've been using Kevin's program for a little over a month now. I've noticed my tone, resonance, and control over my voice is much better. My voice doesn't get tired as easily. Great program. I think I may combine some RYV exercises later on.

I feel like I got ADD, hahaha, my brain NEVER shuts off. Ideas fly out of it every single friggin day and I cannot keep up. As for editing, funny you mentioned that. I am doing a little editing, but as for thinning it out, it's not gonna happen;) It's all in there for a reason;)Yeah any program that has vocal scales will work great with RYV. I like Brett Manning's scales, and of course I love Jim Gillett'e and Thomas Appell's scales. Those work great with RYV. In fact, I teach a lot of scales in private lessons. Just didn't put it in a book because every other book already does that;)

I cant buy anything on internet because we dont have any credit card system in this country. I recently got Jaime's book, asking a friend in USA to buy me the book since he was visiting us. I really want to buy that program too.:(

i just got it yesterday. seems great, although the man really should have put in some effort with a spell check in his pdf, there's grammar errors everywhere. i found at least 10 within one paragraph.

I hear you man. It's a very good program, but I did notice quite a few typos! How's it goin? Have you made any progress?

its a fantastic program, i've made significant gains in the past month.

phil, are you doing both discs or did you master cd1 first?

i do both discs, 2 weeks of SLS has kind of smoothed most of my bridges so i'm really after just adding the power back.

hey kevin can u do the machine gun eddie scream??
cause one of my friends told me if this guy can do it hes 100% correct on wat hes saying u accept the challenge?? xD

btw i stopped using the program i felt my voice was confused on wat 2 do nd the tone of my voice changed it became kinda nasily dont know y

aal, with the utmost respect, I seriously recommend you "shutup and train", and stop making ridiculous posts like the one above where you imply that Kevin Richards doesn't know anything if he can't reproduce some scream. I have a very high opinion of Kevin Richard's program, and I seriously recommend you continue using it. The "problems" you talk about, make me think that you tried it "a couple of times" then quit. You need to put in solid practice time, months of consistent, religious practice time. That is where you will get results.

phil u dont know who told me to write that ok he isnt regular friend hes a really famous singer and coach but i cant say his name i didnt mock any one i have outmost repect to all the coaches out there nd btw i didnt try it just couple of times i tried it 4 two nd half months and it just didnt work 4 me thats just my opinion like many ppl the singing success program didnt work for them
cant i just write my opinion???

thanks

I'm also keen to check out this program as his videos are great on YouTube.

By the way aal, I am sure that Phil's comment is not just as the result of your one question/challenge. It's a combination of a multitude of novice questions that are bordering on tainting the quality of this forum. The contributors to this board are very helpful and especially nice to newbies as we all want people to improve their singing - you're just pushing the welcome.

doug if i made any one here angry im sorry i really like this forum and didnt mean to offend anyone

That Machine Gunn Eddie scream takes a LOT to do, so whomever told you that Kevin don't know what he's doing unless he can do that scream is incorrect. Gillette is one of my closest friends and it was even a challenge for him. Speaking of Gillette, we've just finished writing a book together. Should be out by July. Waiting on Jim to read back through it;)

i am sorry again it was just a challenge nothing more
i started this and i hv to end it kevin no neeed for doing anything to prove wat u are doing nd guys i cant delete the post so chill nd just forget wat i wrote

No one is mad:) Everyone is allowed an opinion. I am sure you didn't mean any harm, just trying to keep the board a fun place so no one gets mad. I personally don't know anything about Kevin's program other than I heard he uses some of Jim's scales, but I hold respect for all coaches who truly care about helping their students and I believe that Kevin is that kind of coach;) If his program doesn't work for you, or if my program doesn't work for you, that is fine. Every singer has to find their own way because we are all human instruments. In the end, practice, sing and have fun:)

Kevin's program, BTC, is great, but it is NOT for beginners. If you have the basics down well, it is really great.

phil not to lie to u at the beginning the program worked but after that i noticed a change in the tone thats wat happened nd btw i totally repect u cause ur one of the most helpful ppl on the forum but just know wat i said wasnt from me its from a really well respeectful coach and singer