GMG Classical Music Forum

The Music Room => Opera and Vocal => Topic started by: Simpan27 on July 29, 2017, 08:08:03 AM

Title: Do i have a chance to be a better singer?
Post by: Simpan27 on July 29, 2017, 08:08:03 AM
Hello

I am a baritone in a musical who is gonna sing this song next week. Does it sound good or can i improve it?

PS im no opera singer i only sing metal but i wanted to try

http://vocaroo.com/i/s1raeYSHIRgi
Title: Re: Do i have a chance to be a better singer?
Post by: zamyrabyrd on July 30, 2017, 10:30:07 PM
Hi there,
If you are a beginner, operatic arias are not the place to start.
If you can reach the high notes so easily in this Boheme aria, I would say that you are not baritone but rather tenor.
It is important to sing UNFORCED in your own middle range before going too high or low.
That said, you should find a good singing teacher which is not an easy task.
Clues that he or she might be good are not making extravagant claims or demands.
You have to learn to sing clean scales betore anything else.
You could try that yourself and recording them.

ZB
Title: Re: Do i have a chance to be a better singer?
Post by: Xenophanes on August 15, 2017, 03:37:13 PM
Quote from: zamyrabyrd on July 30, 2017, 10:30:07 PM
Hi there,
If you are a beginner, operatic arias are not the place to start.
If you can reach the high notes so easily in this Boheme aria, I would say that you are not baritone but rather tenor.
It is important to sing UNFORCED in your own middle range before going too high or low.
That said, you should find a good singing teacher which is not an easy task.
Clues that he or she might be good are not making extravagant claims or demands.
You have to learn to sing clean scales betore anything else.
You could try that yourself and recording them.

ZB

Hi zamyrabyrd!

Are you at all familiar with Julia David's book? Do you have any comments on it? We had a workshop with her and she seemed to know what she was doing.

https://www.amazon.com/Vocal-Technique-Conductors-Teachers-Singers/dp/1577667824/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1502839532&sr=1-1&keywords=vocal+technique
Title: Re: Do i have a chance to be a better singer?
Post by: zamyrabyrd on August 17, 2017, 02:05:03 AM
Quote from: Xenophanes on August 15, 2017, 03:37:13 PM
Hi zamyrabyrd!
Are you at all familiar with Julia David's book? Do you have any comments on it? We had a workshop with her and she seemed to know what she was doing.
https://www.amazon.com/Vocal-Technique-Conductors-Teachers-Singers/dp/1577667824/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1502839532&sr=1-1&keywords=vocal+technique

No, but I have a sizeable collection of books on singing, starting from Lili Lehman, one of the first to actually describe the inner senations of singing. It is so important to be able to transmit actual information and not a lot of abstract fluff. At the core of the libary are books by Cornelius Reid, in particular, "Bel Canto" published in the early 50's. I really devoured and assimilated that book. "Singing and Imagination", appearing 40 years later by Thomas Helmsley was very much appreciated. 

The point about singing, maybe more than other instruments, is it cannot be taught through reading about it, nor as quick fixes in masterclasses. There needs to be an intellectual transference between teacher and pupil, not easy to do or find. However, as Jennie Tourel once said (probably others as well), "In the end you have to find you own voice".