Is belting less healthy than classical/legit production?
There has been substantial controversy about the effects of belting on vocal health, with some voice teachers believing that belting risks vocal fold damage. At the same time, teachers of contemporary styes argue that singers can belt in a healthy manner (see below). Moreover, those involved with contemporary styles often contend that classical singers can develop many of the same problems with vocal fold abnormalities (e.g., cysts, nodules, inflammation). Indeed, a study by Phyland, Oates, and Greenwood (1999) observed that individuals singing opera, musical theatre, and contemporary commercial styles have a similar prevalence of vocal fold injury.
While may be a greater risk of vocal fold abnormalities with belting (particularly chest and "raw" belting), this is likely due to insufficient training. In addition, there are numerous other contributing vocal health stressors, particularly for singers of contemporary styles, that are explored in the Vocal Health chapter of Vocal Technique.
Healthy Approach to Belting
Virtually all modern belters utilize mix belt, or simply "mix" in Broadway terminology. It is called mix because it involves mixed-use of thyroarytenoid and cricothyroid control instead of a pure belt, which would rely solely on thyroarytenoid muscles as pitch ascends, with little/no use of the stretching/thinning cricothyroids. The mixed voice approach also uses only slightly firmer vocal fold closure than classical/legit production, in contrast with the very firm vocal fold closure of a true "raw" belt.
While may be a greater risk of vocal fold abnormalities with belting (particularly chest and "raw" belting), this is likely due to insufficient training. In addition, there are numerous other contributing vocal health stressors, particularly for singers of contemporary styles, that are explored in the Vocal Health chapter of Vocal Technique.
Healthy Approach to Belting
Virtually all modern belters utilize mix belt, or simply "mix" in Broadway terminology. It is called mix because it involves mixed-use of thyroarytenoid and cricothyroid control instead of a pure belt, which would rely solely on thyroarytenoid muscles as pitch ascends, with little/no use of the stretching/thinning cricothyroids. The mixed voice approach also uses only slightly firmer vocal fold closure than classical/legit production, in contrast with the very firm vocal fold closure of a true "raw" belt.