Expert: Sean Martinfield - 6/22/2011

Question
Hey Sean!

So I already know how to breathe from diaphragm (partly), and sing with vibrato, and sing from my head voice. But a few days ago, I recorded myself on my laptop's microphone, and my head voice was just nasal! I was practically gagging on how awful and nasal my head voice sounds like, and I hit a note that was high and it was even more nasal (but not as nasal as Janice from Friends), it was awful! How do you get rid of a nasal head voice? Also, when you breathe from your diaphragm, does the belly button part suck in on does it stick out?

Thank You!
PS: sorry about making it private, newbie noon here haha

Answer
Hi, David –

Thank you for a great question.

The answer is simple. You have to re-train.

Even if you've never had professional coaching – the way you've been working your voice up to now is not serving you. Moreover, the scary part of it – is that the reaction you are having to the sound of your own voice, is probably the same reaction of those around you. "What is he doing!?"

You have developed a habit of singing in your nose, particularly in your upper register. Some might describe the sound as: that DISNEY voice. You know? That irritating Little Mermaid / Stephen Schwartz "Popular" crap.

My job as a professional vocal coach is to open up your entire register. If you are a tenor, that means owning at least the 2-octave stretch up to High C. That freedom happens through working complicated scales. All my tenors exercise up to an open and clear High D without any breaks or "flipping". They are never isolated in their nose.

My job is to show you how to sing those scales. The goal is to get your sense of breath control and support aligned with the notes in your range – no matter what the mirror is revealing about your navel. Right now – your knowledge of breath control and placement is producing a tonality that is clearly not what you want. And may cost you a job.

Find a new coach.

If you have samples of your singing available on line, I will be happy to listen and offer you some feedback.

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:

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DIANE BAKER – Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK
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CAMERON CARPENTER – An Interview with Seán Martinfield
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AT LAST! – ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY – An Interview with Seán Martinfield
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A Conversation with Ruben Martin Cintas, Principal Dancer with SF Ballet
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Best regards,
Seán Martinfield
SanFranciscoSentinel.com
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?cat=65