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Kevin Kwong

As someone who has been singing professionally since 14, Christine Samson's greatest fear today is to lose her dulcet tones.

'I do take care of my voice,' explains the lead vocalist of the successful 1960s sibling band D'Topnotes. 'I don't have late nights, I don't smoke, I don't drink or eat any spicy food. There are sacrifices that you have to make if you are passionate about singing.

'However, as I get older, I have this fear that my voice will get deeper as I have seen this happening to quite a few singing legends. I am totally terrified by this [prospect].'

Thanks to one particular singing technique, help is now at hand.

Developed by Los Angeles-based vocal instructor Seth Riggs - who boasts of a client list that includes Michael Jackson, Tina Turner and Bette Midler - 'speech level singing', or SLS, is said to help develop and improve vocal capabilities.

Samson, who still performs at private functions, learned about this method about five years ago as she started to focus more on teaching.

'I realised my students in Asia could really benefit from it,' says Samson, who recently performed at a reunion concert, 17 years after D'Topnotes were disbanded.

'I became a certified SLS instructor two years ago and my own voice has improved a lot since I started practising it. As a singer, if you don't keep on finding new ways to keep your voice in shape, then it will deteriorate, or you will start running out of breath as you sing.'

SLS is used in achieving 'increased range, dexterity and stamina as well as a more relaxed and desirable tone'. Explaining exactly how it works can get a little technical but, as the name suggests, the technique helps singers to sing with ease and at a comfortable level as if you are just talking.

Samson, whose 90-year-old father Lobing 'The King of Clarinet' Samson still sometimes performs with her on stage, explains that when singing a song we have to cross several 'bridges' in order to hit the right notes.

'A bridge is a certain point in your voice where resonation moves from one area of your body, such as your chest, to another, such as your head. The ability to sing freely and without tension or strain is, in part, due to the effective crossing of these bridges.

'Vocal cords are situated in the larynx, which is positioned in the middle of the neck. When you swallow, the larynx automatically moves up and closes off the entrance to the windpipe. Many singers have the tendency to use the muscles which cause the larynx to move up as a way of reaching higher notes. This is known as 'pulled chest' and is a very poor singing technique resulting in an undesirable tone, vocal strain and damage.

'SLS helps the singer train the larynx to stay down while singing, thus producing a vocal mix, where the voice is able to shift smoothly and comfortably over the bridges.'

An SLS lesson lasts only 30 minutes as it is very intensive and covers many exercises. A tape is given to the students after each lesson for them to practise at home.

'The method helps singers with different strengths and weaknesses. It helps to smooth out all the bridges from low baritone to super head voice,' says Samson, who is of Chinese and Filipino descent.

'I've been lucky to have grown up in a musical family. I always receive valuable advice from my father and uncles. As a teacher, I have come  across many talented young  singers here, and I now want to  help them maximise their potential through SLS.'



Voice of experience