Singing

Hi

I've been trying to expand my musical abilities of late, I'm grade 8 level guitar but that was it, I've started keys with a view to getting to about grade 6 then trying organ.

I've also recently discovered i can kind of sing.

What I'd like are exercises and easy pieces for tenor (preferably some bach if possible!). And is there any way of increasing your voice range? I'd like to be able to hit the high notes of a tenor range, which i can't do at the moment and may not be able when my voice has finished breaking (i hate being 14).

Any help/advice greatly appreciated.

Mark

You should try Bach's Coffee Cantata. Some very nice tenor arias in that i believe. Or maybe the christmas oratorio. Some good tenor music is in the St. Mathew and St. John passions.

If you're fourteen, you should also be prepared to the fact that you may have already become a baritone, if not a particularly low one. As far as stretching your range - sing every day. Do chromatic vocal exercises. Go to where you are comfortable, and then one half-step over, and back down. Do this maybe three or four times a day. As you become more comfortable with higher pitches, your half steps will gradually move higher and higher, before peaking out at your maximum range.

With all of this though, keep good vocal technique. Apply little or no pressure to the larynx, and breath from the diaphragm. Don't try to produce the sound, just let the air do it for you.

If you want to learn other vocal styles you need to learn different techniques, but those three basics pretty much hold for them all.

thanks for the quick replies guys, first I'm going to try one of my favourite arias; aria for tenor from bach's cantata number 4.

Thanks very much, Mark

I think that singing is one of the most underrated activities for composers. I got into singing nearly two years ago and now I sing either solo or in some choral group nearly every day of the week. Singing technique is yet another one of those things that is ridiculously simple and basic when it comes down to it, and yet can take a very long time to master because we all normally come into it with lots of bad habits (unwanted tension, improper breath use, and so on).

If you can, get a voice teacher. If not, then just do your best to stay relaxed and take the advice of Christopher and others: be hyper-aware of any pressure you might be putting on your vocal folds, and in general, let your body sing rather than forcing your body to sing.

I have a book of sight-singing exercises that I work on in solfege on a daily basis. I would recommend this type of exercise to any serious composer, as well.

Not to mention, singing is invaluable for those who want to write for voice. Take Mark Adamo, for instance - his vocal writing is AWFUL. Not in its sound, or in its musicality, but in the way it's written. It's almost unrealistic in its expectations on the voice.

As Christopher said: you're fourteen. That is not exactly the age for any great Bach pieces, especially not something from the oratorios. Especially when you're unsure of your range, which you should be at your age. The best thing you can do is find a good voice teacher and try not to hurt yourself. Remember that not all of us can be tenors (though, who would want to be? =]) Traditional tenor range stretches from C to C an octave above middle C. Baritone range usually stretches from G to G, or A to A; somewhere thereabouts. A select few of us have nice high A's, and fewer have nice low F's. Don't get your heart set too much on staying in your favored vocal part; learn to love your voice and your range, there's something good for everyone. That being said, if you truly are a baritone-- or at least a lower tenor-- try to get into some lieder. Schubert would be a good place to start. Get some good song cycles in, such as Schumann's Dichterliebe. Those are especially good for the more lyric, higher baritones.

Like I said, get a voice teacher, and try not to hurt yourself.

thanks for the advice, at the moment the lowest i can go (comfortably) is the G on the first line of the bass clef and the highest is about an octave above, i can go higher and lower but more than about a tone outside of that range my voice starts breaking up. I can sing some of this aria (page 27-30), but i have to take one or two of the notes up an octave to be able to hit them, hopefully in time either when my voice breaks a bit more or i get better at singing I'll be able to sing it properly

Thanks very much for all your help, Mark

As Christopher said: you're fourteen. That is not exactly the age for any great Bach pieces, especially not something from the oratorios. Especially when you're unsure of your range, which you should be at your age. The best thing you can do is find a good voice teacher and try not to hurt yourself. Remember that not all of us can be tenors (though, who would want to be? =]) Traditional tenor range stretches from C to C an octave above middle C. Baritone range usually stretches from G to G, or A to A; somewhere thereabouts. A select few of us have nice high A's, and fewer have nice low F's. Don't get your heart set too much on staying in your favored vocal part; learn to love your voice and your range, there's something good for everyone. That being said, if you truly are a baritone-- or at least a lower tenor-- try to get into some lieder. Schubert would be a good place to start. Get some good song cycles in, such as Schumann's Dichterliebe. Those are especially good for the more lyric, higher baritones.

Like I said, get a voice teacher, and try not to hurt yourself.

I was actually wondering about what I am. I go from F2 to E4 and sometimes F4.

the lowest i can go (comfortably) is the G on the first line of the bass clef and the highest is about an octave above

I'm gonna guess you mean 2 octaves above..

I was actually wondering about what I am. I go from F2 to E4 and sometimes F4.

Sounds like the makings of a baritone-bass range. What's your tessitura like? Do you have a heavier voice, or are you more of a lyric?

Sounds like the makings of a baritone-bass range. What's your tessitura like? Do you have a heavier voice, or are you more of a lyric?

Pretty heavy voice in the lowest range, although with little vibrato. Anything past middle C sounds very dry and strained.

Probably bass, then. Don't worry about the vibrato thing, that comes with time and training; vibrato is nothing more than a sideproduct of good vocal production. The higher notes will come more too. When I first started vocal training when I was fourteen, my range was abysmal, something around B on the bass clef, and around a D above that; my range bloomed after I started training, I now have from around the F below the bass clef to around a floating B-flat. Have you considered training?

Probably bass, then. Don't worry about the vibrato thing, that comes with time and training; vibrato is nothing more than a sideproduct of good vocal production. The higher notes will come more too. When I first started vocal training when I was fourteen, my range was abysmal, something around B on the bass clef, and around a D above that; my range bloomed after I started training, I now have from around the F below the bass clef to around a floating B-flat. Have you considered training?

Just measured myself again today, when I was in better voice. Turns out I can go from Eb2 to G4, and although C4 and D4 are blurred notes, E4-G4 are strong and have a quick vibrato.

sorry about the double post, btw, someone delete the first one. Computer crashed so I wasn't sure if the first got posted. After that one I did a few more scales and was able to hit A4, so yeah :)

Don't worry, and don't try to become a tenor. It is not a choice you can make. You body is busy making it, and may not stop or decide until you're 35!

Do keep singing, never straining your voice. Straining, especially now, can become permanent. Allow yourself to sing soprano/falsetto/counter-tenor/bass - whatever comes out easily and simply. Look at Schubert songs for yourself and guitar. Apparently he played them that way himself while sick in bed.

Lute songs!!!

These can be done in whatever key you voice thinks it wants to be in that day.

If you can get voice lessons, for breathing and pronunciation, and musical technique, this is the same no matter what voice your body picks out.

Sing in a choir that will not expect you to be preparing for American Idol (and sounding like Sanjaya!).

Good luck waiting out your larynx.

M is D

You sound like a high baritone, or an inexperienced tenor. If the F2 is strong and fit for "public consumption", that would be rare in a tenor, and indicate baritonal leanings. (this is the bottom of the bass clef, right? up to 2 ledger lines?)

Don't try to get a vibrato. Tried vibrato is trying, and sounds artificial, and can ruin a good voice. You ought to be able to control it at all times, from nothing, to released and natural. Think of an oboe, bassoon, or string instrument. NEVER mechanical or automatic, so-many-beats-per-second!