Expert: Sean Martinfield - 7/29/2011

Question
QUESTION: Dear Mr.martinfield I have recently been classified as a lyric baritone but I can't seem to maintain that low tessitura also my voice has developed a high C note and with falsetto is capable of reaching G above can you help me! If you need audio I will get it to you as soon as I can because my previous one do not show my full range.

ANSWER: Hello, Jason –

Thank you for the question.

Yes, I can help you. But I need some more information.

Who determined you are a lyric baritone and how did that happen?
Will you be studying with that person?
What is your ultimate goal?
How old are you?
If you are not yet in college, are you thinking about becoming a voice major?

I'm happy to listen to an audio demonstration of your range. It would be of even greater help if you would also include a song and/or aria that displays your upper range.

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:

TURANDOT – San Francisco Opera Opening Night Gala, September 9th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=144788

“THE BARBER OF SEVILLE” – Presented by the Merola Opera Program, 8/4-7
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=144571

KIRK DOUGLAS – On Stage Today At The Castro Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=144098

“CASABLANCA” – The SF Symphony accompanies screening tonight, 7/22
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=143500

DANIEL MÜLLER-SCHOTT – Featured guest artist in All Tchaikovsky concert at Davies Symphony Hall
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=143298

“HE WHO GETS SLAPPED” – A conversation with composer and pianist Matti Bye
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=141506

“MABUL” (THE FLOOD) – Opens the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival – Tonight, 7/21
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=143059

SFMOMA – Spotlights Ceramics In Recent Art Practice – Now though 10/30
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=142745

SEPTEMBER 11th – “Opera In The Park” – The City’s Civic Observance of the 10th Anniversary of 9/11
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=141653

ABEL GANCE’S “NAPOLEON” – San Francisco Silent Film Festival to present complete restoration by Kevin Brownlow in 2012
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=141704

"BILLY ELLIOT" – A high flying hit at the Orpheum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=137904

HEIDI MELTON – An Interview with “Sieglinde” in San Francisco Opera’s DIE WALKÜRE, 6/29
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=136787

DUTCH AND FLEMISH MASTERWORKS – At the Legion of Honor
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=140498

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA – Single tickets now on sale
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=140195

SF JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL – July 21st through August 8th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=139980

SF ARTS COMMISSION – Taps one of its own to serve as Interim Director
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=141235

ARTIST JEFF LONG – At the Toomey Tourell Gallery
The Birds of California: Beyond Audubon
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=139607

“When Harry Met Sally” – SF Jewish Film Festival presents FREE screening in Union Square, July 16th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=139433

MEROLA OPERA SEASON – Free Concert – Sunday, July 24th at Yerba Buena Gardens
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=139303

THE CASTRO AMBASSADORS – Got questions? Have answers!
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=138785

MARY GIBBONEY – An Interview with the star of “ABSOLUTELY SAN FRANCISCO”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=138339

FRAMELINE35 — LGBT Film Festival Winners Announced
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=137533

"MANGUS!" – FRAMELINE35 – Great comedy at the Castro Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=136577

UNTIL THERE’S A CURE FOUNDATION – meets “Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=136565

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

LUCY WOODWARD – Replaces China Forbes in Pink Martini concerts with SF Symphony
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=136212

AUDITIONS – San Francisco Opera holding auditions for boys
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=136035

“BECOMING CHAZ” – Chaz Bono coming to the Castro Theatre, Thursday, 6/23
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=135860

“WISH WE WERE HERE”, Genie-ous Comedy at NCTC
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=135371

GÖTTERDAMMERÜNG — A World Premiere, Today At San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=135137

"DAS RHEINGOLD" – The slippery steps to Valhalla
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=134597

"BILLY ELLIOT" – Leaps Into the Orpheum June 27th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=134002

PICASSO — Now at the de Young Museum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=133151

OLYMPIA DUKAKIS – Will Host “Tales of the City” Benefit on June 24th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=132644

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

SANDRA BERNHARD – “I Love Being Me, Don’t You?”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=132407

JOHNNY MATHIS and "CASABLANCA" – In the Summer Line-up with SF Symphony
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=131581

SONDHEIM’S “ASSASSINS” – Ray of Light Theatre is right-on target
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=132084

“TALES OF THE CITY” – Totally Sensational, Totally San Francisco
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=130807

“THE STOPS” – At NCTC – Come On and Get A Faith Lift
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=130572

BRENDEN GUY — British Clarinetist In Concert, June 2nd
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=130065

BLUE MAN GROUP — Best show in town!
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=129943

FRAMELINE35: SF International LGBT Film Festival Opens June 16th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=129288

SFMOMA — The Steins Collect: Matisse, Picasso, and the Parisian Avant-Garde
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=128921

THE 2011 FRESH MEAT TOUR — 4 Festive Days of Everything Transgender and Queer
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=128719

SILENT FILM FESTIVAL – Opens July 14th with re-discovered film by John Ford
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=127988

WEEKEND AT THE RRAZZ ROOM — Anita Cocktail,  Poppy Champlin, Julie Goldman, and Fortune Feimster
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=127183

MISSA SOLEMNIS – Christine Brewer to appear with the SF Symphony, June 23–26
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=126924

VICE PALACE – All Singing! All Dancing! All Hedonism!!!
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=126590

SEEING GERTRUDE STEIN: FIVE STORIES
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=126116

SF GIRLS CHORUS — At the Conservatory of Music, June 9th and 11th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=125872

THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS – Coming to A.C.T.
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=125577

ELIZABETH BISHOP – To sing “Fricka” in Wagner’s Ring
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=125552

THE MAGNA CARTA — Now on view at the Legion of Honor
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=125076

THE LITTLE MERMAID – Fabulous Revival by SF Ballet, ends Sunday, 5/8
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=123601

BETH WILMURT – A stunning “Alma” in The Eccentricities of a Nightingale, at the Aurora Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=123309

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 – An Interview
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
SanFranciscoSentinel.com
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?cat=65

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

QUESTION: Dear Mr. Martinfield I was told this by a voice teacher,also I am in college already as for the samples of my voice I still need some time to find a song with high notes any suggestions will be appreciated but until then I think this video closely matches timber in range

http://youtu.be/oduiIYbMHvE

ANSWER: Hi, Jason –

Thank you for getting back to me.

I'm a bit confused. Is this you in the video or someone whose voice you think is similar to yours? If that's the case, then based on this performance, I would not be so quick to identify this singer as a "lyric baritone". He is hitting solid High F#s and High As throughout the piece, the lowest note being D above Middle C. A well-trained baritone would not sing this song in that key. He would sing it at least a minor-third down, the highest note becoming F#. More than likely, the baritone would go a major third down, making the lowest note the B-flat below Middle C.

Using this song as an example, the most important thing to consider is its style. The singer's voice is produced in a certain way to conform to that style. For example, there is virtually no vibrato. This is very characteristic of the vast majority of Pop/Rock music, including a lot of Gospel.

In the Classical world, the vibrato is generally not so suppressed. So again, one of my most important questions to you is – what do you want to sing?

Please get back to me.

Best regards,
Sean Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?cat=65

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

QUESTION: Dear mr martinfield I do like alot pop but also classical as well but I was recently able to upload from my phone a video of my full range on youtube under youngmejason2 and one of me singing the star spangled banner under youngmejason. Sorry I didn't know the anthem notes two well so can you listen to them plz

Answer
Hi, Jason –

OK, so now that we're friends – I have to say you are one very determined guy. I totally appreciate you going out of your way to create these youtubes for me. Use your own judgement about keeping them up or not.

Let's say you lived in San Francisco and came to my studio for a session. As with most of my clients, that means you probably came through a recommendation. We would first have talked on the phone about why you want to work with a vocal coach, etc., and if we both felt it was worth a try, then I would have said, "Come prepared to sing two or three songs for me – something you really know – and I don't care what it is. What are those songs, Jason?"

By your own admission, you really-really don't know the National Anthem. I know from lots of personal experience, that it's range is one octave plus a major fifth. Come September 9th, when the San Francisco Opera opens with Puccini's "Turandot", before the opera starts, it is a long-standing tradition that the audience will rise and sing the National Anthem. It's also true with the opening of the Symphony, which happens two days before. It's played in the key of B-flat, which means the climax notes are all High F. And, yes, I go very prepared to sing. If I'm not prepared, then there's no way in hell I'm going to join in. So, if you said you were going to sing the National Anthem for me, I know I would have said, "I don't think so. What else do you know?"

My first responsibility as a professional vocal coach is to determine your true vocal category. One of the ways that happens is by you demonstrating a variety of scales which I would first show you how to do and then you repeat back to me. Along the way, I'm listening for all kinds of things and offering you very practical suggestions to make what you are doing immediately better. Then I'm going to ask you to sing those two or three songs you mentioned over the phone. In other words, now that you're sort-of warmed-up – and I'm pretty sure what your vocal category is – I'll be listening for what you do with what you really know.

Surely you must know something better than "The Star Spangled Banner". Right? Maybe, "Happy Birthday"? What do you sing around the house? What do you sing with your friends? If the American Idol machine came to your town and you decided to go just to see what would happen, what would sing for them?

Speaking in treble clef – in your video at home, you start on D above Middle C and descend to Low G. Then you skip to 4th-space E and go up from there. It's pretty raw. But what about all the range on the octave between the previous D and 4th-line D/D#? What happens to you throughout that part of your voice?

Those scales I mentioned? I would put you through a series of 8-tone scales between Middle C and High A, maybe higher. Fully voiced, NO falsetto. Then we would determine and prove whether you are a lyric baritone or a tenor with an undeveloped upper register.

I wish you all the best, Jason. Work smart.

Best regards,
Sean Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?cat=65