From: John Alexander Blyth
Subject: Re: Problem with highs
To: VOCALIST <vocalist>
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

Some things I've tried when faced with the same problem, about which more at
the end:
Try *starting* vocalises at a medium large dynamic level in head
tone on an A. It isn't at all the same as falsetto, which requires quite a
different disposition of vocal muscles. Pretend you're a light clear tenor,
just for those notes: an I vowel (as in 'see') will probably be the easier
to manage this with.
Or, do arpeggios, remembering that head tone really is different and
allowing yourself to make the necessary changes to avoid strain.
A bass-baritone isn't normally required to go higher than your F#,
though, nor are most baritone parts.
Don't do anything that hurts, and make sure that you have exactly
the right breath support for each note, neither too little nor too much.

In my own experience: it's only in the last couple of years that
I've really found and developed a good solo sound, and concomittently had
more opportunities to perform as a soloist. To survive some solos,
especially over a choir or orchestra, I've had to plan to definitely lighten
up and allow the higher notes to be in head voice, sometimes doing a whole
phrase which I could comfortably use a full chest voice for except for
perhaps one note. Listening to recordings of myself in performance it sounds
like the same voice, even although it feels very different. Even now it's
very tempting to push (old bad habits) and I have to be very disciplined,
especially when there is more than one performance in a day.
Even although I can go quite high in practice sessions, I still
think of even middle C as a high note, rquiring some lightening in most
situations.

john

At 15:34 07/01/00 +0000, you wrote:
>Dear all,
>I am a Bass Baritone and I have serious problems with my highs, i.e. G4,
>Ab4 etc.
>Up to Gb4 no problem but then suddenly I am stuck. Can anyone suggest a
>good method of practicing which gets me over this barriere?
>Thanks in advance.
>Kurt Theurer
>Bass Baritone
>
>
John Blyth
Bass/Baritone (as opposed to Bass-Baritone) etc.
Brandon, Manitoba, Canada