Recently someone I know asked me this one:
Is this like Use it or Lose it? If I don’t exercise my voice every day, will I lose my singing range? And I want a bigger range anyway. What I can do?
It’s a question that I hear A LOT!
Can you hum? First think about the sound you make, when you pronounce the word “SING.” The “NG” at the end of the word makes a sound that has a pitch. Focus on that for a moment.
Let’s learn to hum on “NG,” because this will help relax the voice and expand the range. First say the word SING and hold the NG at the end (speaking). Get the feel for that buzzing sensation while you hold the NG. This is kind of a combination of speaking and singing right now.
Next think of a familiar tune that is a comfortable medium range — not too high and not too low. Forget the words of that song for now and just hum it on NG. This will loosen things up.
Now let’s have a look at a great old Italian love song. It’s a nice medium range. If you are a woman, sing in same pitches as the singer on this recording. If you are a man, sing the same pitches one octave lower than the singer on the recording.
Don’t worry about the words of this song for now. We’re humming it on NG right now. Let’s first learn this great tune. Listen first and learn the melody, by hearing this famous Italian opera singer perform it:
No, you don’t have to be an opera singer to sing this and it won’t turn you into an opera singer. We are using it to help expand your range.
When you’ve learned the tune, hum it on NG, while you continue playing the recording. You are humming along with the recording now, on our NG hum.
We first strengthen the middle of your range. When this is feeling more comfortable, more powerful, and once the sound is becoming more beautiful, then we start learning exercises that allow you to sing higher and lower — GRADUALLY.
That’s right! You need a teacher to guide you. Contact me and I will first hear you sing this Italian melody, humming on NG. Then if you like this one, we next learn the words to it. The Italian words are easy to pronounce and will sound very natural in your singing voice. It’s a gorgeous old Italian love song and I will even give you the translation.
It won’t take long — maybe a few weeks of a little daily practice, that you can enjoy and have fun with. When it’s sounding good and feeling comfortable, we move onto exercises that go slightly higher and slightly lower. We do not force the voice to do anything. That won’t work and it can harm your voice — and then you won’t have any range at all. So forcing and pushing is out.
It’s a gradual process that is VERY REWARDING!
Here’s a great article for you to consider:
Contact me today and let’s get started with your vocal range development!
All the best,
Gretchen
