About
About The Sweetland Belt Technique
Sweetland Belt is a complete singing technique that enables singers to realize the full stylistic potential of their voice, from the most extreme Rock Belt, to Pop, Broadway, and Country. But it is not just Belting. Sweetland singers develop a strong Legit that is appropriate for Golden Age Musical Theatre, Operetta, and Opera. It is the one technique that truly encompasses all styles of singing. Lee Sweetland developed the technique in the 1960s in Los Angeles, and had success with his students in Opera, Pop, Rock, and Broadway. His son Steve taught Opera singers in Germany and Denmark, Broadway singers in New York City, and Pop singers in Los Angeles. Sweetland singing is stylistically versatile, builds strength throughout the range of the voice, and is exceptionally healthy for the voice. With Steve’s blessing, I am attempting to make this technique known around the world.
Donny Osmond, student of Lee Sweetland, sings “Close Every Door” from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. When he gets loud near the end of the song, watch how he uses his teeth and lips to heighten pronunciation and resonance.
Barbara McAlister attributes Lee and Sally Sweetland with putting her voice back together after an illness, and in so doing building her voice to its full strength. She won the prestigious Loren Zachary competition in Los Angeles while studying with the Sweetlands, and went on to have a multi-decade career singing dramatic mezzo soprano roles throughout the northern hemisphere.
Lee Sweetland Singing “It’s a Grand Night for Singing” live on the radio in 1945.
Jenn Gambatese has performed leading roles on Broadway, National and International tours, and in many regional theatres. She studied singing exclusively with Steve Sweetland. Here you can hear how she deftly switches between a pop legit tone and Belting, with many variations in between.
Lauren Newell studied first with Tony Richards, then Steve Sweetland. While she sings all genres, here is an example of Country singing that features Belting in her original song “No Hope In Hope, Missouri.”
Seth MacFarlane studied with Lee Sweetland, and continued with Steve after Lee’s death. Frank Sinatra used to hang out in Lee’s living room, where they would talk about singing and storytelling. Lee gave Seth a direct line to the fruit of those conversations, as you can hear in this stylistically pure rendition of “The Things We Did Last Summer.”