Expert: Sean Martinfield - 4/24/2011

Question
1. I m a guy n has been singing in the range from G2 to D7 but these few months, Im struggling to hit the high notes. My chest voice is normally up to C5 but these days, if I sing in it, my throat hurts. After singing for about 30 minutes, I get all hoarse and creaky. Is there any safer way to sing in high notes? What's causing the pain n cracks n SAHARA-DRY throat?
2. My Adam'S apple also move up and down alot but professional coaches say it is not suppose to. Is that even possible? If they r true, do I have to change my singing style?

Answer
Hi, Bibi –

Thank you for the question.

My job as a professional vocal coach is to identify your vocal category, i.e., tenor, baritone, bass, etc., and then train you accordingly. That means teaching you a variety of vocal exercises that stretch, strengthen, and maintain your range. That includes a complex variety of scales. An ideal vocal work-out lasts no less than a half-hour – before you begin learning or rehearsing your material. It's no different than what professional dancers do. They have to do a ton of exercises everyday in order to not hurt themselves or their partners in a choreographed routine. Simple.

If you are in fact a tenor, then you need to know how to train as a tenor. It sounds like you're doing very challenging material that includes a lot of heavy-duty output in your uppermost register. Obviously, your youthful enthusiasm is not enough to guarantee that your upper register will be there at tomorrow's rehearsal or the gig on Saturday night.

If you are not really a tenor, but are trying to effect the sound of a tenor – then you need to deal with that too.

If you have a sample of your work available on-line, I will listen to it and offer you some feedback. In the meantime, do some basic 8-tone scale work throughout your vocal range.

Find a vocal coach you can work with. The vast majority of my clients come to me through recommendation.

I am a vocal coach to working singers in the San Francisco Bay Area. I'm 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:

THIS GUN FOR HIRE, 1942 – Looking at "Now you see it, now you don't" sung by Veronica Lake
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI26A6HdnWY

"My Silver Dollar Man" – from MARKED WOMAN (starring Bette Davis, 1937)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJMuY8aKFV8

"Would You Like A Souvenir?" – Sean Martinfield and Janet Roitz explore a song from Film Noir classic NORA PRENTISS (1947)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOiqTp0tjvg

TENOR JAY HUNTER MORRIS – Replaces Ian Storey as “Siegfried” at SF Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=122595

MIKE WARD – Benefit for ailing director at Most Holy Redeermer, 4/30
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=122568

THE PRINCESS OF MONTPENSIER – Les yawns, les sighs
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=122148

CD: ZUILL BAILEY, Cellist – Brahms Works for Cello and Piano
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=121932

NO EXIT: A Helluva Great Time at the American Conservatory Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=121768

THE FLOW SHOW 3 – Coming to Dance Mission Theater, 4/29—5/1
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=121686

THIS WEEKEND: New Conservatory Theatre Center presents – “Gender Mystic” and “The Busy World Is Hushed”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=121527

THE WHIFFENPOOFS – Coming To The City, May 27th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=121278

AUDITIONS: San Francisco Opera seeks physically fit male supernumeraries for Wagner’s Die Walküre and Götterdämmerung
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=121242

TIIT HELIMETS – An Interview with “Prince Edvard” of SF Ballet’s THE LITTLE MERMAID
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=120731

KIRK DOUGLAS – On stage at the Castro Theatre, July 24th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=120434

54th SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL – Presents Midnight Award to Clifton Collins Jr.
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=120042

NO EXIT – U.S. Premiere at A.C.T. through May 1st
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=119807

WAGNER'S RING – Single tickets now on sale for SF Opera summer productions
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=119495

SF BALLET'S PROGRAM 7 – Petrouchka, Underskin, and Number Nine
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=119322

COMING TO SAN FRANCISCO  —  THE MAGNA CARTA
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=118962

LORENA FEIJÓO – SF Ballet Star To Appear on “Dancing with the Stars”, 4/12
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=118952

SF BALLET – Program 6, A Power-Packed Triple Feature
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=118865

CD: DAVID RUSSELL — Isaac Albéniz: Spanish Music on Guitar
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=118412

PROGRAM 6 at SF Ballet – Opens Tonight
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=118269

NEW CONSERVATORY THEATRE CENTER – Announces 2011-12 Pride Season
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=117780

NEW PUBLICATIONS: PUBLIC TRUST BETRAYED. An Interview with author and real estate appraiser, James E. Manning
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=117374

MARVELOUS MENAGERIE: A Roman Mosaic from Lod, Israel – At the Legion of Honor
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=116876

CHARLOTTE SALOMON: Life? or Theatre? – Opens today at the Contemporary Jewish Museum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=116720

THE ECCENTRICITIES OF A NIGHTINGALE – At the Aurora Theatre, 4/1—5/8
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=116448

PHILHARMONIA BAROQUE ORCHESTRA & CHORALE – Announces 2011-2012 Season
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=116217

VICE PALACE: The Last Cockettes Musical – Opens April 29th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=115816

ARMISTEAD MAUPIN – At the Julia Morgan Theatre, Thursday, 4/14
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=115793

JOAN and SANFORD I. WEILL – Contribute $12 Million Dollars to Sonoma State University for Green Music Center
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=115431

HUGH JACKMAN – Exclusive Engagement at the Curran Theatre, May 3–15
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=115236

BALENCIAGA AND SPAIN – At the de Young, 3/26–7/4
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=114917

AUDITIONS – SF OPERA Needs In-Shape Men and 40 Kids For WAGNER’S RING
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=114691

COPPÉLIA – A Gorgeous New Production at San Francisco Ballet
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=114535

DIALOGUES OF THE CARMELITES – At Fort Mason, 3/31—4/3
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=114258

NEW ON CD – Icicle Creek Piano Trio: Haydn, Turina, Shostakovich
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=114131

NATALIE DESSAY – Is “Lucia di Lammermoor” in HD at Sundance Kabuki Cinema
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=114075

NEW CENTURY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA – Presents “Mastery of Schubert”, Featuring Soprano Melody Moore, 3/24–27
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=113791

SF CONCERT CHORALE – Presents Herbert Howells’ Requiem and Arthur Honegger’s King David
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=113695

“COPPÉLIA” – A SF Ballet Premiere, Cast Announced for Opening Night, 3/19
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=113530

"THE HOMECOMING" – A Home Run at A.C.T.
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=113481

BACH B-MINOR MASS – This week at San Francisco Symphony
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=113394

ARE WE THERE YET? — At the Contemporary Jewish Museum, March 31st – July 31st
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=113077

"PEARLS OVER SHANGHAI" – Final Performance, April 9th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=112894

KILLER QUEEN – The Story of "Paco the Pink Pounder"
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=112730

“CALIENTE” – Opens Tonight, 3/10, at Teatro ZinZanni
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=112653

RAGAZZI BOYS CHORUS – Celebrates the Extended American Family, "Made In America"
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=112644

KURT MASUR – Conducts the SF Symphony in All–Mendelssohn Concert, 3/10–12
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=112263

FLORAL DESIGNER NATASHA LISITSA – Creating the Fantastical in the Wilsey Court for “Bouquets To Art 2011″
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=111892

EDITOR'S CHOICE — HÉLÈNE RENAUT, Vinyl Release Celebration at Cafe du Nord, 3/7
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=111697

ZHENG CAO – A Conversation with A Miracle Artist
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=111219

MELODY MOORE – Soprano shines in SF Ballet’s “Nanna’s Lied”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=110816

MARNIE BRECKENRIDGE – An Interview with “La Princesse” of Philip Glass’ Orphée
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=109326

SF BALLET –Program 4, All Tchaikovsky
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=110251

ODC THEATER – Presents Sarah Michelson and Richard Maxwell's "Devotion"
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=109708

AVENUE Q – A Totally Fabulous Place To Be
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=108981

ZUBIN MEHTA & THE ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC – At Davies Symphony Hall
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=108853

ROTHKO CHAPEL and MOZART’S REQUIEM – SF Symphony and Chorus, 2/23—2/26
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=108820

ORPHÉE – Ensemble Parallèle Presents SF Premiere of Opera by Philip Glass
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=108569

SCHWABACHER DEBUT RECITALS – Begins February 20th at Temple Emanu-El
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=108484

CATS — Returns to San Francisco, May 5th – 15th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=108256

CONSTANTINE MAROULIS – Comes to the Curran Theatre in “Rock of Ages”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=108426

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT – Best Picture Nominee Cast Donates To On-line Charity Auction
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=108226

DMITRI HVOROSTOVSKY – This Sunday at Davies Symphony Hall
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=108093

MARC HUESTIS PRESENTS – Lesley Ann Warren, Valentine's Day At The Castro Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=107913

EDITORIAL – A confession about ballerina Lorena Feijóo
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=107690

PULP FASHION: The Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave at the Legion of Honor
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=107453

YURI POSSOKHOV'S RAkU — Stunning World Premiere At San Francisco Ballet
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=107256

PROGRAM 2 – Opens Tonight At San Francisco Ballet
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=106942

CLYBOURNE PARK – A Bright Debut for Director Jonathan Moscone at A.C.T.
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=106753

THE RITE – Right into the trash
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=106465

NOIR CITY 9 — Festival closes today at the Castro Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=106265

GISELLE – And the Legend of the Wilis
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=105461

COMPANY C CONTEMPORARY BALLET – Opens 9th Season
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=104823

GISELLE – Opens SF Ballet's 78th Season, 1/29/11
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=99745

“NUREMBURG: It’s Lesson For Today” – Rare Documentary Restored
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=104677

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA – Opens September 9th with with Iréne Theorin as “Turandot”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=104443

PEARLS OVER SHANGHAI – Thrillpeddlers Extends Hit Show Through April 9th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=104310

BUDRUS – A Documentary on uniting Palestinians and Israelis
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=104134

NADJA SALERNO-SONNENBERG – and New Century Chamber Orchestra Announce February 2011 Tour
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=103892

LORRAINE HUNT LIEBERSON – Featured Artist On Philharmonia Baroque's New Recording Label
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=103202

CAMERON CARPENTER – Organist signs with CAMI Music and Konzertdirektion Schmid
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=102415

THE ELIXIR OF LOVE FOR FAMILIES (The Movie) – Free Screenings At The Herbst
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=103120

BEETHOVEN – A Two-Week Gig At San Francisco Symphony
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=102789

ASIAN ART MUSEUM – Proposed financial agreement provides long term stable financing
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=102738

2ND ANNUAL GERMAN GEMS – Comes to the Castro Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=102599

PIANIST HÉLÈNE GRIMAUD – This Week with the SF Symphony
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=102180

FILM NOIR FESTIVAL – At the Castro Theatre, 1/21–30
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=101857

THE PALACE OF FINE ARTS – Opening Celebration, January 14th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=101597

A Conversation with Elza van den Heever
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=99268

HEART OF A SOLDIER – SF Opera Commissions New Work
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=98518

ARTHUR SZYK: Miniature Paintings and Modern Illuminations
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=97709

SF SYMPHONY – Announces 2011/12 Centennial Celebration
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=97495

I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS – What were they smoking?
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=97281

SHREK THE MUSICAL – Ogres and Freaks and Spells, “Oh, my!”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=96975

THE BLACK SWAN – Don’t Save The Drippings
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=96580

CD: MAHLER’S “Songs With Orchestra” – SF Symphony Completes Mahler Recording Project
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=95840

YIGIT PURA – Local Pastry Chef Wins Bravo’s “Top Chef Just Desserts”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=95774

GENIUS WITHIN: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=95683

KARITA MATTILA – “Viva To The Diva!”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=95163

CLUB FOOT ORCHESTRA – A Conversation with Richard Marriot
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=94863

ELZA VAN DEN HEEVER – Performs Strauss’ Four Last Songs with SF Symphony
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=94646

TIMOTHY SEELIG – Takes His Baton To SF Gay Men’s Chorus
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=94577

RECLAIMED: Paintings From The Collection of Jacques Goudstikker
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=94007

WEST SIDE STORY – Most of it, anyway
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=93786

PLÁCIDO DOMINGO – An Interview with the Tenor turned Baritone for “Cyrano”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=93275

SCHEHERAZADE – A Spectacular Opening Night for Alonzo King Lines Ballet
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=92361

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

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

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

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

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

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

SABINA ALLEMANN – Former SF Ballet Ballerina Returns In A.C.T.'s "The Tosca Project"
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=76516

CD/DVD Release: CAMERON LIVE! – Organist Cameron Carpenter
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=76093

THE RUFFATTI ORGAN & CAMERON CARPENTER at DAVIES HALL
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=76169

JEANETTE MacDONALD – Hollywood Diva Remembered at the War Memorial Opera House
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=75637

AMANDA McBROOM – A rose for new CD, "CHANSON"
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=68879

CAMERON CARPENTER – Stellar Organist Returns to San Francisco
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=68311

HANDEL'S "ORLANDO" – An Interview with Conductor Nicholas McGagen
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=67774

CAMERON CARPENTER – At Davies Symphony Hall
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=64126

PEARLS OVER SHANGHAI – An Interview with Russell Blackwood
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=63625

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

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

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

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

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

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
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?cat=65