To: vocalist
Subject: Re: Baritone Upper Register Hook
Date sent: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 14:05:54 PST
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>


Jeremy wrote:
snip-

>Is anyone else here familiar with
>this dilemma (I need my high notes but can't figure out how to get them
>out)? #2 Does anyone have any suggestions of vocal exercises that might
>help me strengthen/find my top?


Dear Jeremy,

The problems you are experiencing in the upper register are very common
for both baritones and tenors. As a young tenor I still search for better
ways to bridge my two registers more smoothly. However, the "hook" technique
you speak of may not be the best way to go about developing the upper
register. The idea of hooking into the upper register often tends to induce
a false acoustical adjustment within the vocal tract and depresses the
larynx excessively. In other words, it puts a false "color" in your voice
due to the fact that the high note you're trying to access is gotten to by
"hooking" into it, which often results in swooping up to the note while
singing a very muffled and impure vowel sound. While "hooking" can teach
you a little about the "feeling" of the upper register, it does hardly
anything to teach a singer how the coordinate the registers and sing a pure
vowel in the upper register. Certainly some change in timbre is necessary
in the upper register, however, the "hook" teaches an artificial cover which
is not a characteristic of great singing. I liken hooking to the old-time
car horns that sounded like "AHHHOOOOGUH."
It's difficult to explain exercises on the email, but a good place to
start would be "The Structure of Singing" by Miller. He has some excellent
exercises for developing the upper range.
Milnes made some amazing recordings, especially in his younger years.
Whenever I listen to young Milnes I'm floored that he had an upper register
like that. But, you should not compare your voice to his and try to copy
that sound. It seems that Milnes got himself into much vocal trouble in
later years. The sound you were born with is just fine Jeremy. Good Luck!

Taylor Ferranti
Doctoral Candidate (Voice/V. Science)
LSU

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