Acting in Plays, Singing/Teenagers and High Notes

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Expert: - 4/14/2008


Question
QUESTION: Hello Mr. Martinfield,

I'm a teenage girl who loves to sing and wants to make one of her majors (admittedly in several years) voice. I've always had a high voice, and ever since I began doing exercises (I haven't had a teacher yet, though I hope to soon) or, for that matter, singing commonly, my range has extended and really on most days I can easily hit the Queen of the Night's high F. However, a friend of mine is taking voice lessons, and her teacher says that teenage girls of our early age shouldn't sing above fifth-line F sharp until "time and training yield stronger vocal cords". I'd love to have your opinion on this, sir--it doesn't really make sense, as I'm not straining, but then, I don't know much on the physical aspect of things.
Thank you for your time,
Rachel

ANSWER: Hello, Rachel –

Thank you for a great question.

Some self-styled teachers don't know beans.

Go to this web site:  http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/dialogue/dialogue_sills_bs.html
It concerns the PBS documentary, "BEVERLY SILLS: MADE IN AMERICA".  Get it.  Study it.

While you're at it, learn about the early years of these stunning teenage girls who possessed your kinds of abilities and personal drive:
Deanna Durbin
Jane Powell
Roberta Peters
Julie Andrews

I am a huge fan of coloratura sopranos.  Before Beverly Sills had her first voice lesson, she knew the soprano repertoire through recordings and "imitated" the skills of her favorite singers.  Obviously, it paid off.  The more you know before going to your first voice lesson, the better you will be at judging whether a particular teacher knows what the hell he or she is talking about.  That's what libraries are for.

I am a professional singing teacher and vocal coach in San Francisco.  If you are in the Bay Area, contact me through Craig's List –
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/lss/639441046.html

Take a look at my newest You Tube:
Lorena Feijóo - A Look at "Giselle" with Seán Martinfield
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33-a6Oa-0j4

I am also the fine arts critc for the San Francisco Sentinel.  Below are some links to recent articles and reviews:

CHERYL BURKE RESCUES THE METRONOME BALLROOM
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=11150

SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, 2008
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=11727

SAN FRANCISCO BALLET – Program 6 – An International Salute
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=11592

DALE CHIHULY – Lighting-Up At The de Young
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=11432

THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR – Inspecting A.C.T. until May 20th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?cat=10

At the Asian Art Museum – DRAMA AND DESIRE
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?cat=10

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY – 14th Season with Michael Tilson Thomas
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=11074

MELISSA MANCHESTER – A Conversation with Seán Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=10419

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA – ON SCREEN AT THE CASTRO THEATRE
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=10898

WEST SIDE STORY SUITE – Standing Ovation for San Francisco Ballet Premiere
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=10924

ANNIE LEIBOVITZ – On her show at the Legion of Honor
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=10764

LORENA FEIJÓO – A Conversation with Seán Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/index.php?s=Lorena

SWEENEY TODD – PRIME CUTS FROM DIRECTOR TIM BURTON
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=8434

ANITA COCKTAIL and LEANNE BORGHESI – A 3-Way Dialogue
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=8007

NORMA SHEARER in “MARIE ANTOINETTE” – At the Legion of Honor
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=8783

JENNIFER SIEBEL – A Conversation with Seán Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=6361

An Interview with PASCAL MOLAT, Principal Dancer of the San Francisco Ballet
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=305

Best regards,
Seán Martinfield


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

QUESTION: Thank you for responding, Mr. Martinfield.
I have studied some degree of singing technique from our local library, though it seemed that every book contradicted the next ("The larynx must be low!" "Don't think about the larynx!"). I admire Beverly Sills a great deal; I especially find her La Traviata lovely. For a while I have been studying (by ear, I mean) 'Ah, Je Ris De Mi Voir' primarily off of Maria Callas's recording; as well as 'Je Veux Vivre' and 'Vedrai, Carino' (if it interests you, on the more operetta side I have been studying 'Glitter and be Gay' as well as 'Green Finch and Linnet Bird').
I have envied Deanna Durbin for a very long time. I still envy her, though now I try to imitate her beautiful tone instead of just sulking around and complaining about her lovely voice and my (in comparison) mediocre one.
If it isn't too much trouble, could you recommend some relatively simple arias/art songs/songs in general that I could study, or ought I wait until a teacher assigns them to me?
Thank you, sir, for your time.
Sincerely,
Rachel

Answer
Hi, Rachel –

Thank you for the follow-through question.

Don't wait for some teacher to assign you anything.  There are no simple arias.  Proper vocal health and development does not come about solely through imitation.  You must also become the very best musician you know.  Take a course in Piano 101.  It will change your life.  You must be able to play at least your own melody line and to read a chord chart.  How else will you learn something that has no recording?

Keep looking to align with a teacher who can help you prepare for entrance to a major conservatory such as we have here in San Francisco or a university with a Music Department recognized for its classical vocal training.  For additional repertoire, check out the songs and arias that are on all the CDs of the singers we've mentioned.  Also listen to Joan Sutherland, Natalie Dessay, and Kathleen Battle.

Check out these vocal exercise books:

THE ESTELLE LIEBLING VOCAL COURSE for coloratura soprano, lyric soprano, and dramatic soprano.
VACCAI – For High Soprano

While you're at it – you must study French, Italian, and German.  Correct tone placement is absolutely linked to correct pronunciation of the language.

Work hard!  And get your body into Olympic/Centerfold condition.

Most sincerely,
Seán Martinfield

Acting in Plays, Singing

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Sean Martinfield

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I am a professional vocal coach in San Francisco. In addition to answers from a previous web site (Askme.com - where my "tag" was "VocalCoach") I have published over 2000 responses related to vocal training - particularly as it relates to Musical Theatre and Opera. I have 24 years of experience as Personal Trainer to singers and actors in the San Francisco Bay Area. I sang professionally for 20 years and know what it means to live the life of a musician. I can determine your voice category, i.e., Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Alto Belter, etc., and how to broaden and strengthen your range. Need an audition song for a Broadway Musical? I will give you suggestions that are appropriate to your vocal category and to requirements specified in the audition notice. I have also created a vocal methodology, "The Belter`s Method". It will enable those in Musical Theatre to practice more efficiently because it focuses on the demands of professional performers as well as to those auditioning for school and community productions, and as University and Conservatory performing arts majors. If what you want is a better voice and more control over your career moves and choices, contact me. Also, as the Editor of SanFranciscoSentinel.com, it is my privilege to review productions at the San Francisco Opera, Ballet and Symphony, as well as Broadway National Tours booked into San Francisco's Orpheum, Golden Gate and Curran Theatres. I also review works by A.C.T (the American Conservatory Theatre) and Magic Theatre. I cover select films, tributes and retrospects, and various international film festivals – particulary those booked into The City's opulent Castro Theatre – including the LGBT Frameline Festival, International Film Festival, Silent Film Festival, Jewish Film Festival, etc. For private vocal instruction, I can be contacted through SanFranciscoSentinel.com. Look under: Seán Martinfield, Sentinel Editor and Publisher.

Experience

As a vocal coach, I work primarily with singers and actors throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. My students range from absolute beginners to working professionals, from pre-schoolers to senior citizens. The vast majority of my clients come to me through recommendation. I know how to identify any singer's vocal category, i.e., soprano, tenor, alto, baritone, etc. I know how to muscle-up every singer's vocal range and to expand it beyond conventional definitions. I have developed a vocal methodology for those who want to know how to belt, THE BELTER'S METHOD. As a singer who spent half of his career doing Bel Canto, I know that classical or Italian methodologies do not work in Standard American music. Bel Canto cannot be "adapted" to meet the needs of contemporary American music, including the demands of the Musical Theatre. There are a number of major components to my work as a vocal coach. The first is to identify the client's vocal category and to strengthen and maximize the vocal range accordingly. Then it's about teaching a reliable vocal workout that will enable the client to gain better control of their musicianship. That includes scale work to expand the vocal range and to improve placement, breath control, and diction. Then we work on material for the audition portfolio, the immediate job or assignment, a recording session, etc. My task to is to better equip singers and actors who are hoping to or relying upon their performance skills and vocal endurance to maintain a career in the Performing Arts. My clients regularly appear in cabarets and musical productions throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Some have worked in New York and gone on National Tours. For more information, Contact me at: Broadwaybelters@yahoo.com

Education/Credentials
San Francisco State University – BA in Theatre Arts; graduate work in Theatre, Philosophy, and Comparative Reiligion. Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley – Graduate work in Ethics

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