Expert: Wanda Reinholdt - 1/1/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hello my name is Kesean Norris and I have a question about registers. I am in college and voice teacher has put me in the tenor fach which is no problem i have alway's been a tenor forever. The one thing I have a problem is with register uses... we have to sing classical and i am use to singing gospel. I actually love hearing classical music but with me singing it, it has become a little problem. Around F3(F above middle C) i began to have to flip, but in gospel i can easily continue going higher. My voice teachers says that I push a little, and tries to get me to sing it in my mix. Is there anything that I can do to sing in my mix better.

ANSWER: Hi Kesean...Thanks for writing and for your question.

Usually if you are pushing it means that you are not open enough to get the sound out.  Are you relaxed when you are singing or do you sense a tenseness anywhere in your body?

(I'd like to talk with you about this via a few emails as that will help me know how to help you.)

Wanda
www.kaizenworks.org

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ummmmm after like a E flat above middle c i can feel a little tension in my neck area. It kind of wants to add a lot of pressure to my neck and in result sometimes i start singing with my head in the air. I have the range of just plain chest voice is A two octaves from middle c all the way up to f above middle c sometimes i can go a little higher, but once i add head voice i can execute all the way up to a E above tenor high c.... thanks so much

Answer
Ok.  Thanks for sharing that.  

Do you stretch and do exercises before you sing?  Stretching may help.  

With neck exercises, it is important to be careful.  But one of the best exercises for the neck is to slowly move your chin down to your chest and feeling the stretch.  The other stretch is slowly tipping your head to the right side getting your ear as close to your shoulder as you can and feeling the stretch on the left side.  Then switch.  

If you do some diaphragm exercises as well increasing your breath capacity (pulling in breath until you can't pull in any more and then doing some more and holding) may also help.  

You might want to consult another voice teacher for some help on this as well.  

Does this help you?

Wanda
www.kaizenworks.org