Don, your comments really ring true for me. This is what my gut told me as I went to the workshop and the private lesson. Sounds like several people have gotten good results with Speech Level Singing, and I could probably learn things, but I would probably get equal or greater benefit from going back to my wonderful voice teacher on a regular basis, plus I don't hazzard the problem of potentially wrecking my voice. That on top of my natural antipathy at being told to control my larnyx (which bops around even when I speak), and the expense ($35 for a half hour). I think I will skip it.

Here is another thing to think about. The Speech Level guy also said vibrato is like an on off switch and he could teach me how to get rid of it in my voice. Because I sing traditionally, don't have a lot of vibrato, and don't want very much vibrato, this perked up my ears. However, the idea of singing unnaturally to affect a certain sound is really unappealing. There are plenty of traditional singers with a touch of vibrato, which is a natural phenominon of the voice.

My band is going to play at North Texas Irish Festival this year, come say hi, if you are there and maybe we can find some singing time.

All the best,
Claire