> Also, it might be useful to sing along with some
> recordings that
> spend some time in the stratosphere. As a baritone,
> I find singing
> along with Steve Perry (of Journey) to be very
> effective in improving
> my highest notes. I suspect that it has something to
> do with having a good model.
This is such good advice. I have a full lyric voice,
but lately I've been trying some lighter
lyric/coloratura rep that has some sustained high c's
and d's which have always been a problem for me (I can
pop notes up to a high a# on my good days). Most of
the listening I do is of other heavier-voiced
sopranos, but for these I've been listening to
Kathleen Battle. I've found that mimicing her lighter
approach has made a huge difference in producing the
high notes, and for the first time I can sustain notes
above high c.
The other thing that helped me was purely by accident
a few weeks ago. I was rehearsing with my pianist, and
I was having what could only be called a bad voice
day. I was out of tune, notes that were normally easy
weren't, my throat was tired, and in my frustration
after one particularly bad passage I let go a really
loud high note as a means of expressing my annoyance
(sort of a singer's scream) and it was amazing -
clear, focused, powerful. I checked on the piano and
it was a high e. I had no idea I could do that! All of
a sudden the worst rehearsal turned into the best
because I discovered I could do something new (which I
have been repeating over and over and over ever since
making sure I remember how - my neighbours must hate
me). And I think it happened because at the time I
wasn't thinking about correct technique and stressing
over how everything was placed - I just let go and
sang.
Jennifer
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