Expert: Sean Martinfield - 11/30/2010

Question
Hey Sean,

I really appreciate you taking the time to answer this. Um, I'm only of 17 years of age and I have what I've been told is a great bass voice. I'm fine at keeping in time (I'm a drummer - lol) and pitch. All of that is fine, and I'm very happy with my voice.

I'm able to go to the A below the regular "E" of a bass voice. Even the Ab sometimes. I can go lower, but it becomes very 'rumbly' and is too quiet to use anywhere. Anyway, I was wondering... When I get down that low, I have a lot of trouble projecting the lower range. I can project my D's and E's down there as well as I can project my higher register... (Not belting of course) But I can never seem to get those low notes loud enough - without a mic.

With a mic it just booms through due to the frequency of it.

I have had singing lessons before, but that was when I was younger, and did not have the range I have now.


But yeah, I was just wondering if it's a breathing issue or whether I just need to practice in that lower register to be able to project more. Or if it's something else of course.

If there is anything you can suggest... That would just be fantastic.

Cheers,

James.


Answer
Hello, James –

Thank you for the question.

At 17, you need to learn patience. It's no different a discussion for body-builders. You don't come to sound like or look like Hercules overnight. It all happens over time and through an absolutely reliable method of practice. If you are aiming for an operatic career, then it's about staying in Olympic shape until you quit or die on stage.

I was 18 when I went to my first professional vocal coach. Six months later I made my concert debut, got my first check, and have been doing it ever since. It's all about Technique. If you are a true bass, it will be proven through the repertoire written for a bass. And there's tons of it. Learn it. Perhaps you will fall in love with it. Or you might hate it.

Listen to bass Nicolai Ghiaurov. Sample his CD, "An Evening With Nicolai Ghiaurov". It contains some of the most well-known arias in the bass repertoire. Then link to the same arias (and the operas from which they originate) as performed by other basses. Their recital albums will have other selections that should interest you as well. Just keep researching and listening. Bare in mind that all these singers were once 17 and probably had the same concerns as yours.

My job as a professional vocal coach is to show you how to increase the power of your lower register and to balance your entire range. I coach working singers in the San Francisco Bay Area.
I am also the Editor and Publisher of SanFranciscoSentinel.com. Each of my articles on San Francisco's entertainment and cultural scene contains a link to my personal e-mail:

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Best regards,
Seán Martinfield