My vocal coach said I needed an Opera Lesson...yowzer...

I am working on improving my vocal technique for singing my own demo's - I've been told I can do it by her (my coach)  - I just need to work on a lot of things - she is kind but direct and demanding - I don't get off easy with her. 

So in my lesson today I raise a question about how I can sing something like "All I Ask Of You" from Phantom and feel good about the tone/timber but that I can't translate a similar tone/timber over to a Country singing style. I felt like with more of a Country style, it’s like my voice gets a blanket put over it. She goes "show me."

So I do a rendition of the first verse of "All I Ask..." and before I even finish she goes, ok, I know whats up - you need a lesson in Opera. 

Not the answer I was expecting, as I am trying to sing country, but I go with it. She proceeds to walk me through proper posture, shoulders back, elongating the torso to make room for more air, etc. And then we do a couple vocal exercises of holding the word "No" as long as I can at full volume and apparently I wasn't. She kept taunting me with "More" much like the Phantom taunts Christine with "Sing!" - well, maybe not quite like that. I sounded like I have never heard myself sound before (in a good way). It was quite the workout. 

I played Trumpet for 25 years so how I used air playing Trumpet is very different from how I need to use it singing. So now muscles and body parts in the upper torso I didn't know I have are quite sore. Everything (almost) is different from playing trumpet and I really have to think about whats going on - not used to the level of physical demand and nuance that singing requires. 

I have no ambitions for Opera, except for the techniques that can help me sing better for Country, or just in general. Today was quite eye opening and marginally painful in many muscles. And somehow I know today is just a snowflake on the iceberg....