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Speech level singing Definitely DOES Work


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Speech level singing Definitely DOES Work


Speech Level Singing Does work

Just look at these artists! They are the best in the world. And there’s so many of them.

The following is an incomplete list of some of the singers who have studied Speech Level Singing, either with a currently certified Speech Level Singing teacher or with a teacher who was trained in Speech Level Singing.

ArtistS who have studied SLS

Seth Riggs

Famous Singers Seth has worked with:

  • Michael Jackson 

  • Stevie Wonder 

  • Prince

  • Madonna 

  • Dusty Springfield 

  • Diana Ross 

  • Cher 

  • Lionel Ritchie 

  • Nina Simone 

  • Ray Charles 

  • Ozzy Osborne 

  • Tina Turner 

  • Janet Jackson 

  • Julie Andrews

  • Olivia Newton-John 

  • Bette Midler 

  • Liza Minelli 

  • CeCi Peniston (‘Finally’, 90s smash-hit)

  • Stockard Channing (Grease, 1978 Movie)

  • Bernadette Peters 

  • Bonnie Raitt 

  • Sinéad O'Connor 

  • Frankie Valli 

  • Rosie Gaines (Prince)

  • Michael Bolton 

  • Belinda Carlisle 

  • Natalie Cole 

  • Josh Groban

  • Julio Iglesias 

  • Enrique Iglesias 

  • James Ingram 

  • Al Jarreau 

  • Waylon Jennings 

  • George Benson 

  • Val Kilmer (The Doors)

  • Whoopi Goldberg (Sister Act)

  • Jonnie Halliday 

  • Jimmie Rodgers

  • Linda Hopkins 

  • Ruth Pointer (Pointer Sisters)

  • Joe Jackson 

  • La Toya Jackson 

  • Marlon Jackson 

  • Randy Jackson 

  • Reebie Jackson 

  • Tito Jackson 

  • Tiffany (‘I Think We’re Alone Now’, 80s smash-hit)

  • Tracy Ullman 

  • Shanice Wilson (Shanice)

Famous Groups Seth has worked with:

  • LINCOLN PARK- Chester Bennington

  • MOTLEY CRUE- Vince Neill, Ray Pound, Hank Redd, Mike Sembella, Nathan Watts

  • RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS- Anthony Kiedis

  • SUPREMES- Diana Ross, Cindy Birdsong, Linda Laurence, Joanne Turrell, Mary Wilson, 

  • EURYTHMICS- Annie Lennox

  • CHICAGO- Peter Cetera, Bill Chamberlain, Jason Scheff

  • EN VOGUE- Terry Ellis

  • AEROSMITH - Joe Perry

  • KISS- Paul Stanley

  • STEVIE WONDER- Ben Bridges, Greg Phillinganes

  • LOU RAWLS- Judy James, Yvonne Wright

  • BOB DYLAN- Carolyn Dennis, Helena Springs, JoAnne Harriss

  • FLEETWOOD MAC- Billy Burnett

  • MARVIN GAYE- Johnny Simon, Florence Lyle

  • SHALIMAR- Howard Hewitt

  • TOTO- Brian DuPlessis

Films Seth has worked on as vocal consultant:

  • NEW YORK, NEW YORK- Liza Minelli

  • SWEET CHARITY- Shirley MacLaine,

  • COOL WORLD- Kim Basinger

  • WILD AT HEART- Nicholas Cage

  • PENNIES FROM HEAVEN- Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters

  • IDOL MAKER- Ray Sharkey, Peter Gallagher

  • VICTOR/VICTORIA- Lesley Anne Warren

  • RHINESTONE COWBOY- Sylvester Stallone

  • SLUGGER'S WIFE- Rebecca de Mornay

  • RUBY- Sherilyn Fenn

  • NEWSIES- Ann-Margret, Christian Bale

  • FOR THE BOYS- James Caan

  • MOSES IN EGYPT- Val Kilmer

  • SONGWRITER- Lesley Anne Warren

  • MAMBO KINGS- Armand Assante

  • TOMMY- Tina Turner, Ann-Margret

  • COLOR PURPLE- Margaret Avery, Rae Dawn Chong

  • THE DOORS- Val Kilmer

  • ROADHOUSE- Ben Gazzara

  • SIZZLE- Loni Anderson

  • DICK TRACY- Madonna

  • THE MARRYING MAN- Kim Basinger

  • JOSEPHINE BAKER STORY- voice for Josephine, Baker-Carol Dennis

  • I'LL DO ANYTHING- Nick Nolte, Tracy Ullman

  • SISTER ACT- Whoopi Goldberg

  • BOYS ON THE SIDE- Whoopi Goldberg

  • LION KING- Jeremy Irons, Whoopi Goldberg, Robert Guillaume, Cheech Marin

  • FAME L.A.- Heidi Lehnert, Stephanie Dicker, Tony Russel, Chris Kane, Roselyn Sanchez

  • SPIDER MAN 2- Toby Maguire, Kirsten Dunst

Dave Stroud

  • Justin Timberlake

  • Cee Lo Green

  • Justin Bieber

  • Demi Lovato

  • Ben Folds

  • Natasha Bedingfield

  • Kelly Clarkson

  • Adam Lambert

  • Michael Jackson

  • Frank Ocean

  • Nathan Sykes (The Wanted)

  • Jordin Sparks

  • Johnny Rzeznik (lead singer of the Goo Goo Dolls)

  • Martina McBride

  • Andy Brown (lead singer of the band Lawson)

  • James Valentine (Maroon 5)

Wendy Parr

  • Sara Bareilles

  • Regina Spector

  • Nancy Sinatra

  • Charlotte Gainsbourgh

  • Zoe Kravitz

  • Pat Smear (Nirvana)

  • Jurassic 5

  • Fred Durst (Limp Biskit)

  • Nikolai Fraiture (The Strokes)

Brett Manning (and Associates)

  • Taylor Swift

  • Hayley Williams (Paramore)

  • Leona Lewis

  • Miley Cyrus

  • Mikky Ekko (Rihanna)

  • Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)

  • Keith Urban

  • Wendy Moten

  • That Poppy

Mindy Pack

  • Justin Timberlake

  • The Lumineers

  • Halsey

  • Brandi Carlile

Greg Enriquez

  • Britney Spears

  • Courtney Love

Raab Stevenson

  • Taylor Swift

  • Alicia Keys

  • Kelly Clarkson

  • Jennifer Hudson

  • Rihanna

  • Justin Timberlake

  • Pharrell Williams

  • Kelly Rowland, formerly of “Destiny’s Child”

  • Ryan Tedder of “One Republic”

  • Lionel Richie

  • Ne-Yo

  • Lumineers’ lead singer

  • Phoenix’s lead singer

  • The Dave Matthews Band

  • Zac Brown Band

  • Lady Antebellum

  • 50 Cent

  • Charlie Puth

  • Meghan Trainor 

Jeffrey Skouson

  • The Killers (including Brandon Flowers)

  • Imagine Dragons

  • Panic! At The Disco (Brendon Urie)

John Henny

  • Britney Spears

other FAMOUS PEOPLE (ACTORS, Singers, SPORTSMAN) SETH HAS WORKED WITH - 1

  • Donnie Ray Albert 

  • Muhammad Ali 

  • Marcus Allen 

  • Luci Arnaz 

  • Armand Assante 

  • Jim Bailey 

  • Kim Bassinger 

  • Priscilla Baskerville 

  • Alan Bates 

  • Brian Bedford 

  • Angela Blasi 

  • Debbie Boone 

  • Pat Boone 

  • Tom Bosley 

  • Didi Bridgewater 

  • Carol Burnett 

  • Levar Burton 

  • Christian Castro 

  • George Chakiris 

  • Richard Chamberlain

  • James Coburn 

  • William Conrad 

  • MacCauley Culkin 

  • Tony Curtis 

  • John Davidson 

  • Billy Davis Jr. 

  • Susan Dey 

  • Kirsten Dunst 

  • Nancy Dussault 

  • Emanuel 

  • Lisa Eichorn 

  • Sherilyn Fenn 

  • George Firth 

  • Jane Fonda 

  • Steve Forrest

  • Connie Francis 

  • Peter Gallagher 

  • Terri Garr 

  • Ben Gazzara

  • Marla Gibbs 

  • Rod Gilfrey 

  • Johnny Gill 

  • Sharon Gless 

  • Kathryn Grayson 

  • Melanie Griffith 

  • Robert Guillaume 

  • Gene Hackman 

  • George Hamilton 

  • Barbara Harris 

  • Greg Harrison 

  • Lisa Hartman 

  • Goldie Hawn 

  • Howard Hewitt 

  • Clint Holmes 

  • Jeremy Irons 

  • Sonny James 

  • Anne Jefferies 

  • Ann Jilian 

  • Don Johnson 

  • Jose Jose 

  • Stacey Keach 

  • Lynn Kellogg 

  • Nicole Kidman

other FAMOUS PEOPLE (ACTORS, Singers, SPORTSMAN) SETH HAS WORKED WITH - 2

  • Molly Ringwald 

  • Talia Shire 

  • Renee Simard 

  • Helen Slater 

  • David Soul 

  • Rick Springfield 

  • Frank Stallone 

  • Sylvester Stallone 

  • Connie Stevens 

  • Sharon Stone 

  • Toni Tenille 

  • Lily Tomlin 

  • Brenda Vaccaro 

  • Joan Van Ark 

  • Sylvie Vartan 

  • Ben Vereen 

  • Eduardo Villa 

  • Jessica Walters 

  • Rachel Ward 

  • Leslie Ann Warren 

  • Ted Wass 

  • Jody Watley 

  • Carl Weathers 

  • Raquel Welch 

  • Maurice White 

  • Deniece Williams 

  • Lenny Williams 

  • Paul Williams 

  • Angela Winbush 

  • Tobey Maguire 

  • George Maharis 

  • Steven Torme March 

  • Ann-Margret 

  • Cheech Marin 

  • Steve Martin 

  • Mireille Mattheiu 

  • Shirley MacLaine 

  • Marilyn McCoo 

  • Geraldine McEwan 

  • Ed McMahon 

  • Barbara McNair 

  • Manuel Mijaris 

  • Helen Mirren 

  • Shirley Murdock 

  • Eddie Murphy 

  • Leslie Nielson 

  • Nick Nolte 

  • Danny Nucci 

  • Pete Onorati 

  • Cassandra Peterson (Elvira) 

  • Bobby Pulido 

  • Anthony Quinn 

  • Kevin Kline 

  • Nathan Lane 

  • Florence La Rue 

  • Eloise Laws 

  • Heather Locklear 

  • Lorna Luft 

  • Kevin Kline 

  • Nathan Lane 

  • Florence La Rue 

  • Eloise Laws 

  • Heather Locklear 

  • Lorna Luft 

other FAMOUS PEOPLE BRETT MANNING & ASSOCIATES HAVE WORKED WITH - 1

  • Adelitas Way

  • Alana Grace

  • Alexandra Osteen

  • Allison Speer

  • Andrea Thomas

  • Andrea Young

  • Andy Smith

  • Bethel Music Recording Artists

  • Billy Dawson

  • Brodi Clementi

  • Brother Sundance

  • Bryan and Katie Torwalt

  • Bryan White

  • Calynn Green

  • Cardfall

  • Carlos Santiago

  • Charmaine Brown

  • Chris Bandi

  • Chris Lane

  • Christian Clementi

  • Clark Beckham

  • Claude McKnight

  • Clay Crosse

  • Cosmo Mallardi

  • Crissie Rodes

  • Dallas Smith

  • Dana Talley

  • Danielle Peck

  • Danny Rader

  • Dave Barnes

  • David Archulet

  • Debbie Ryan

  • Dia Frampton

  • Ed Cash

  • Electra Mustaine

  • Erin Kinsey

  • Ernest K. Smith

  • Evan Bass

  • Gabrielle Hindy

  • Hayden Panetierre

  • Israel Houghton

  • Jake Owen

  • Jared Weeks

  • Jason Catron

  • Jason Moncivaiz

  • Jeff Jenkins

  • Jerry Flowers

  • Jess Coppens

  • Jillian Cardarelli

  • Jimmy Gnecco

  • John King

  • John Michael Montgomery

  • Johnnyswim

other FAMOUS PEOPLE BRETT MANNING & ASSOCIATES HAVE WORKED WITH - 2

  • Jonathan Osteen

  • Josh Feemster

  • Josh Ronen

  • Joy Williams

  • JT Daly

  • Kane Brown

  • Kelly Keagy

  • Kevin Singleton

  • Krystal Meyers

  • Leeland

  • Leigh Nash

  • Lexi James

  • Lisa Kimmy

  • Lois DuPlessis

  • Louisa Wendorff

  • Luke Bryan

  • Maddie Jane

  • Mat Kearney

  • Mackenzie Porter

  • Mark Kibble

  • Marty Roe

  • Mason Ramsey

  • Melissa Green

  • Michael Barnes

  • Michael Peterson

  • New Found Glory

  • Nia Peeples

  • Noah Cyrus

  • Noah Henson

  • Nolan Neal

  • Olivia Lane

  • Pam Tillis

  • Rachael Lampa

  • Rachel Potter

  • Raelynn

  • Ray Vega

  • Rick DeJesus

  • Rick Seibold

  • Rob Beckly

  • Sam Palladio

  • Saving Abel

  • Scat Springs

  • Scott Cash

  • Scott Underwood

  • Shimon Moore

  • Stacy DuPree King

  • Steve Mandile

  • Sunny Malouf

  • T.J. Harris

  • Taylor Carroll

  • Tom Keifer

  • VersaEmerge

  • Wes Hampton

 

What Is SLS?


What Is SLS?


“Speech Level Singing is an absolute refusal to reach for any pitch.
In other words - the larynx needs to stay on the general level of where you speak - hence Speech Level Singing.”
— Seth Riggs, inventor of Speech Level SInging

It is the opposite of shouting or yelling when you sing, or cracking into falsetto.

When applied correctly, SLS eliminates breaks between chest voice and head voice, increases range as well as ease in which to sing - all musts for singing without damaging your voice as well as for having a successful singing career.

 

WHAT ABOUT THE GUY ON YOUTUBE TALKING ABOUT SLS?

Maybe he doesn’t think Stevie Wonder or Michael Jackson or Barbra Streisand or Prince or Chester Bennington are very good singers?! Maybe he’s confused Speech Level Singing with speech therapy? Or maybe just saw a rubbish SLS teacher or someone ‘claiming’ to teach SLS?  He seems confused about it anyway.

Admittedly it has a somewhat misleading name, Speech Level Singing - but this is only meant to suggest that singing is much closer to speech than it is to shouting or falsetto. The larynx is supposed to stay more or less neutral and stable; not tight, not raised all the way up, and not all the way down.

“SLS is a singing technique that was precisely designed to help singers sing more easily and more strongly, without any strain or cracking. That’s why so many top singers still study and use it, and why so many modern vocal techniques are based on it. ”

Singing and speaking use exactly the same parts of the body, in very similar ways. A large part of what SLS does is to help singers stop shouting whilst they sing.  Once they've done this, they can increase the volume, support, intensity, rasp, etc, but not before or too soon, otherwise they go back to shouting!

1. We definitely do teach support.  

2. We do teach the bright tone necessary for singing and projecting. This is such an important part of voice production!

3. We teach better bridging, not 'early bridging'.  This may be earlier bridging if someone is currently bridging late, the latter of which is often the cause of vocal strain.  We do not teach vocal strain.  We helps singers find and improve the 'middle voice' by coordinating the vocal muscles better.  Once you've reduced the strain sufficiently you can increase the strength, otherwise you will increase the strain.

4. SLS does teach the 'bright ping'.  (See also #2 above.)  This 'ping' and clear resonance is a key constituent of good singing.  However, we do often use some temporary 'yawning’ sounds to help singers relax the vocal strain caused by over-compressed vocal cords and/or a tight larynx.  Maybe this guy heard only part of a lesson, or a singer mid-lesson using one of these temporary sounds…or just a bad singer?

Any exaggerated sounds are only used temporarily, just to help singers feel themselves using the correct vocal muscles and breath support.

5.  We do not use loads of confusing exercises.  We use real words as our exercises (most adults know 20,000-30,000 words!) - and we use these words as tools to help you find better coordination of your vocal muscles and better breath control.  For example, we use: MUM or GOO or NAY.  

6. We try to keep lessons simple and use a small amount of exercises per student.  I commonly use about 5 key exercises, again and again, with some minor modifications.

7. We also use some temporary sounds to help some singers find better placement.  If they don't need it, we don't give it to them.  Most singing teachers also use these temporary sounds.

The likelihood is that this guy and us are all heading towards the same thing - less strain, no cracks, more control, better range, more ease, more power - but his experience of SLS might have been limited.