Expert: Sean Martinfield - 10/12/2010

Question
Dear Sean

Sorry in advance for making you read such a long complaint,
I'm really quite desperate to find out what's wrong and sort
it out!

This time last year I had a healthy dark mezzo-
soprano/soprano voice, quite strong for my age and a broad
range from F3 to E6. Over the last year in college, what
with drinking too much, staying up too late and general
health decline I found myself hoarse very often. It'd take 3
days to recover sometimes, longer to get my full singing
voice back. Before I went away for the Summer I lost my
voice at my going away party despite not drinking too much
or shouting too much. The following 6 weeks, what with
talking to people and working 12 hour days, my singing
voice, let alone speaking, never really came back.  Since
mid-September it's back, I'd lose it after one day of
talking to people and now 3 weeks later my singing voice
isn't in perfect condition. It keeps buckling under pressure
on certain vowels at certain pitches and I'm still prone to
losing it. My voice teacher assures me I'd have to be
drinking a bottle of vodka and smoking 40 cigarettes a day
or squealing from the top of my lungs to have done damage to
my voice but I'm not sure. I'm desperate to figure out why
my voice which used to be robust is so weak now! I read it
could be due to birth control pills? Or possibly it's
because of clearing my throat? I have a knack where it feels
like I'm going to clear my throat of phlegm but I can sift
it so it goes into my mouth (disgusting as it is)- could
THIS be doing the damage?

Hope you can shed light in some way, thanks a million!

Answer
Hi, Clíodhna –

Thank you for the question. I appreciate all the information.

Very often when young women describe their vocal range as being one note shy of three octaves, i.e., Low F to the E above High C, and include in their description two vocal categories – mezzo and soprano – my caution lights start flashing.

What kind of material were you singing during this earlier period? Have you demonstrated this range in concert or at an audition?

My job as a professional vocal coach is to identify your true vocal category. Once that is determined, then the training begins. In the Classical and Musical Theatre repertoire, everything is divided according to the vocal category or "fach". Ultimately, your vocal ID is proven through a great deal of public performance – including recitals, competitions, auditions, roles, etc. Not having heard you, what I don't know is the quality of sound and volume you had/have throughout your range, especially at either end. Moreover, there is a definite difference in the passagio of a mezzo and a soprano no matter how "dark" or dramatic your sound may seem to be. It's all about placement and endurance. Notes and vowels and volume and how to sustain any of it is really all one discussion. And that discussion is about your Technique.

What do you want to do with your urge to sing? In what arena of music do you envision sustaining a career or even an active hobby?

The vocal work-out is everything. You must know how to exercise effectively and to maintain your range no matter what you sing. And since there's a helluva a lot of competition out there – in every field of music – you must also maintain your health. That includes regular visits to your physician, a healthy diet, and being in Olympic centerfold condition. Before it is anything else – singing in public is an athletic experience. You must be in shape physically to handle the daily responsibilities of being a professional musician. That can really cut into a girl's social life.

What if you had a singing gig a month from today? Let's say it's a Charity Benefit and you've been given 15 minutes of time to sing whatever you want and the accompanist will be provided. What would you sing and what would you do – who would you work with – to get yourself into shape?

If you have any samples of your voice available on-line or which you can send me I would be happy to listen to it and offer you some feedback.

I'm a vocal coach to working singers in the San Francisco Bay Area. I am also the Editor and Publisher of SanFranciscoSentinel.com. All my articles and interviews provide a link to my personal e-mail.

Below are links to my articles and youtubes on San Francisco's entertainment and cultural scene:

MADAMA BUTTERFLY – A Beautiful Ensemble At San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=91730

RUFUS WAINWRIGHT – World Premiere of Five Shakespeare Sonnets, November 11–13
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=91632

SCHEHERAZADE – Alonzo King LINES Ballet at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=91228

MADAMA BUTTERFLY – Opens at SF Opera, Tuesday 10/12
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=91101

Dr. ELISA STEPHENS – My Visit with the President
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=90791

WEST SIDE STORY – Opens At The Orpheum, 10/27
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=90603

ANITA BRYANT DIED FOR YOUR SINS – At NCTC through October 24th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=90289

TALES OF THE CITY – Casting for A.C.T. Workshop Announced
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=90166

Carey Bell and Jean-Frédéric Neuburger – At Davies Hall
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=89908

VAN GOGH, GAUGUIN, CÉZANNE & BEYOND – A San Francisco Must-See Experience
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=89802

MARIA CALLAS EXHIBIT – A Rare Collection At the Italian Cultural Institute
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=89563

MARRIAGE OF FIGARO – Now At San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=89358

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES – A Sparkling Hit at Broadway By The Bay
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=89305

A.C.T. Extends "Scapin" – Through 10/17
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=88628

AT THE DE YOUNG – Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne and Beyond
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=89086

PHILHARMONIA BAROQUE ORCHESTRA – 30th Anniversary Gala, 9/24
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=88961

TENOR RAMÓN VARGAS – A Worthy “Werther” At San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=88856

AÏDA – Spectacular Opening Night At San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=88247

JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA – Now At The Victoria Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=88014

OPENING NIGHT AT SF SYMPHONY – A Mixed Bag
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=87772

LE NOZZE DI FIGARO – Opens 9/21 at San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=87283

WERTHER – French Classic At San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=86829

SF FRINGE FESTIVAL – Preview Coming Attractions
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=86425

DREAMGIRLS – High Gloss and Not Much Soul
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=86316

CUBAN BALLET – An Interview with Octavio Roca
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=86049

A Look At "Giselle" with Ballerina Lorena Feijóo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33-a6Oa-0j4

DOLORA ZAJICK – Internationally Acclaimed Mezzo To Receive Merola Distinguished Alumni Award
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=85363

OPERA – Opening Night, September 10th, Verdi's AÏDA
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=85323

BLACK SABBATH – The Secret Musical History of Black-Jewish Relations
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=85115

DON’T ASK and DIVALICIOUS — Now at the New Conservatory Theatre Center
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=84593

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES – 45th Anniversary Celebration at Broadway By The Bay
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=84971

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST – At San Francisco's Golden Gate Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=84933

HAIL CAESAR! – Gymnast Dreya Weber is “Cleopatra” at Teatro ZinZanni
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=84775

CD: SONIDOS LATINOS – Guitarist, David Russell
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=84374

EAT PRAY LOVE – Julia Roberts Is Gorgeous
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=84196

JAMES LEVINE – Celebrating 40 Years at the Metropoitan Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=84017

BILL IRWIN – Opens A.C.T.’s 2010/11 Season as Molière’s “Scapin”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=83672

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA – Broadcasts Return to KQED
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=83505

CD: GREAT STRAUSS SCENES – Christine Brewer, Soprano
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=83425

19th ANNUAL SAN FRANCISCO FRINGE FESTIVAL – Begins September 8th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=83168

“L’ELISIR D’AMORE” – Members of the Merola Opera Program, this week at Fort Mason
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=82920

ANGELA CADELAGO – Debuts With Festival Opera as “Lucia di Lammermoor”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=82899

DIVALICIOUS – Leanne Borghesi Raises The Roof At New Conservatory Theatre Center
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=82831

OPENING NIGHT – SF SYMPHONY, Tuesday, September 7th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=82620

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE – Swashbuckling At SF's Yerba Buena Center For the Arts
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=82738

MATTHEW SHILVOCK – Appointed Associate General Director of San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=81723

AÏDA – Verdi’s Masterpiece To Open SF Opera, September 10th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=81526

NORMA TALMADGE & GILBERT ROLAND – “A Woman Disputed” At The Castro Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=81297

“PSYCHO” – SF Symphony Accompanies Screening of Hitchcock’s Classic, Saturday Night, 7/17
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=81083

THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE – A Sweeping Bore
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=80896

JULIAN COX – Appointed Chief Curator of the de Young Museum and Founding Curator of Photography
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=80803

MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM – Schwabacher Summer Concerts At The Herbst and Yerba Buena Gardens
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=80667

BACH & FRIENDS – West Coast Premiere At The Kabuki, 7/14
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=80577

JONAH HENDRICKSON – Sculptor of Harvey Milk Bust At City Hall
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=80449

DREAMGIRLS — Coming to SF, Box Office Opens on Sunday, 7/11
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=80404

IMPRESSIONISM AT TWILIGHT – Impressive Dining At the DeYoung
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=80296

STONEWALL UPRISING – New Documentary Captures Pivotal Moment in the Gay Rights Movement
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=80102

SILENT FILM FESTIVAL – Opens Thursday, July 15th, At the Castro Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=79834

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN – "Puttin' On The Ritz" At the Golden Gate Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=79580

DIE WALKÜRE and LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST – Final Performances Tonight and Friday
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=79383

SF PRIDE, 2010 – Videos of Ambassador James Hormel, Retired Navy Captain Joan E. Darrah, and Dykes On Bikes
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=79239

FROM BEGINNING TO END – At the Castro Theatre, FRAMELINE34
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=78854

THE STRANGER IN US – At the Castro Theatre, FRAMELINE34
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=78809

MARIA KALMAN – Coming to the Contemporary Jewish Museum, July 1st
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DEBORAH VOIGT – A Captivating "Fanciulla del West"
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=77858

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SABINA ALLEMANN – Former SF Ballet Ballerina Returns In A.C.T.'s "The Tosca Project"
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THE RUFFATTI ORGAN & CAMERON CARPENTER at DAVIES HALL
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JEANETTE MacDONALD – Hollywood Diva Remembered at the War Memorial Opera House
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GOUNOD’S “FAUST” – To Open SF Opera’s Summer Season, June 5th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=75046

FRAMELINE34 – LGBT Film Festival Opens June 17th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=74894

BIRTH OF IMPRESSIONISM – Now at the de Young Museum
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BLACK & WHITE BALL – Entertainment Announced for Saturday, May 22nd
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LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST – Opens June 9th at San Francisco Opera
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ROMEO AND JULIET – Poetic Finale at SF Ballet
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TEATRO ZINZANNI – A Tenth Anniversary Gala Celebration
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AMANDA McBROOM – A rose for new CD, "CHANSON"
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CAMERON CARPENTER – Stellar Organist Returns to San Francisco May 2nd
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HANDEL'S "ORLANDO" – TONIGHT AT THE HERBST. An Interview with Conductor Nicholas McGagen
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THE LITTLE MERMAID – “This Girl’s Got Everything!”
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CAMERON CARPENTER – At Davies Symphony Hall, May 2nd
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ALICE IN WONDERLAND – A Lot of Tempest in a Pot of Tea
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ROMAN POLANSKI – “The Ghost Writer”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=61731

PIANIST MISHA DICHTER – A Conversation
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=59695

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF – Some Fancy Fiddling By Harvey Fierstein
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=59193

ZUILL BAILEY – A Conversation
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=58241

CREATION – A Challenging Film Biography on Charles Darwin
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=57307

DAVID PERRY – On the “Dos and Don’ts of Social Media”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=56487

NATHAN GUNN – Sings Schubert's Die Schöne Müllerin
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=56056

CRITIC’S CHOICE: CD – MICHAEL MANIACI: Mozart Arias For Male Soprano
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=54523

THE 39 STEPS – Hitchcock To Stage Is Too Fabulous
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=52598

CAMINOS FLAMENCOS – A Conversation with Yaelisa
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=51761

A CONVERSATION WITH LUCIE ARNAZ – This Week At The Rrazz Room
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=51605

ON THE ORGAN – At the Legion of Honor
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=49615

JANE MONHEIT – This Sunday At The Empire Ballroom
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=48083

FLEETWEEK – Weekend Bash at Pier 39
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=45837

FLEET WEEK – A Conversation with Airshow Pilot Tim Weber
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=45460

NORMA SHEARER – Hollywood Dreams Made Real
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=38082

THE EGYPTIAN (1954) – A Swords & Sandals Cultural Encounter at the de Young Museum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=37554

DIANE BAKER – Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=32007

CAMERON CARPENTER – An Interview with Seán Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=24462

AT LAST! – ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY – An Interview with Seán Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=27122

A Conversation with Ruben Martin Cintas, Principal Dancer with SF Ballet
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=22107

Best regards,
Seán Martinfield
SanFranciscoSentinel.com