Technique Levels 

Given that singers develop at different levels and in different areas of vocalism (e.g., the sensitive artist might not develop technically as quickly as the boring singer with the perfect natural sound), it is helpful to categorize a singer’s stage in that development.  While the standard form of this categorization remains limited to accredited college and conservatory systems, many students have neither the time nor financial resources for this type of training.  Furthermore, the level of skill and vocal ability for graduating singers varies so significantly that performance degrees are no longer considered a factor in auditions for operas and musical theater.  (Your instrument and teacher, however, are critical!!!)

Taking the most-significant factors into consideration, WVS defines the skill level of a singer utilizing the following terms:  beginner, novice, intermediate, advanced, professional and virtuoso.  These levels are defined below:

BEGINNNER – A beginning singer has had no significant prior voice training.  They often demonstrate limited ability to match or sustain pitch, create an amplified or resonant sound, and sing outside of their normal speaking range.

NOVICE – A novice singer may or may not have had prior voice training, but demonstrates a definite talent and basic ability for singing.  Matching pitch and creating vocal volume are not problems for the novice singer.  Often they have been encouraged by friends and family to join a chorus or take voice lessons due to their natural “talent.”  You will find the novice singer often is the star at karaoke or talent shows, demonstrating an ability far above his or her competition.  Many beginning pop and commercial singers are at this level.

INTERMEDIATE – An intermediate singer has usually studied voice for several years in either a group (choral) or private setting.  This singer demonstrates a skillful command of pitch, an expansive range (though often marked by difficulty in register transition), and a present vibrato.  Breath management and vocal coordination are markedly improved, and this is certainly a “skilled” singer.  They are no stranger to solo work, and have usually performed in public on multiple occasions.  The intermediate singer is on par with students in a Bachelor’s of Music program in most high-quality conservatory and university vocal performance programs.  Strong commercial and regional musical theater performers fall into this category.

ADVANCED – An advanced singer can enter the professional world with relative ease.  Vibrato is smooth, rapid and even, pitch is near-flawless, resonance is huge, vocal agility is swift… though not yet technical masters of their voices, they are certainly prepared for Broadway-caliber gigs!  Commercial music stars with this level of technique often have long-term careers and are noted for the advanced quality of their vocalism.  Opera singers begin working in small-scale productions at this level.  Masters and PhD level students at the top voice conservatories belong in this category.

PROFESSIONAL – The professional singer is one who must only refine and fine-tune his/her instrument to continue excelling in the career.  Like a professional athlete, the work ethic and athletic ability of this instrument are simply not a question.  These singers demonstrate a superior range, ease of vocalism, power and endurance in the top one-percent of their field.  Trained beyond the Broadway standard, professional-level technicians often find they have to “dumb-down” their voices to adapt to more speech-like singing in shows, though this presents no real difficulty.  Most professional singers have trained over ten years and have illustrious careers while include performances at major operatic houses, Carnegie Hall, on Broadway, Lincoln Center, et. al. 

VIRTUOSO – Virtuoso singers require no training, only maintenance.  While external factors (sleep, environment, nutrition, stress, etc.) may cause some deviation in the technique, any intrinsic flaws are almost unnoticeable.  Only subjective aesthetic opinions can tear down these voices, as they are a technically supreme balance of power, efficiency, flexibility and endurance.  Blessed with a combination of masterful vocal skill, near-perfect structural balance and favorable DNA, these singers represent the ideal after which future generations model themselves.  There is no industry or educational equivalent for these singers, as they define a vocalism that education only aspires to attain.

For a more detailed table of the technique levels, please click below: