Expert: Wanda Reinholdt - 12/3/2007

Question
I'm a senior in high where I attend Center for the Arts for Vocal Musical Theatre.I am a genuine alto with a range that can reach very VERY low.But when it comes to my upper range, I dont feel like it's not as high as it should be.When I used my head voice (Becuase when things are too high for me a have a bad habit of try ing to belt it anyway)it sounds very weak.There's another girl in my class is a Alto like me,but hear sound is alot deeper and her head voice is still very strong.Do you think I need to start lessons outside school or is there any excersices I should try?
Thank you in advance!!!

Answer
Hi Brittney!  Thanks for writing.  This is a good question.

I think that it would be a good idea for you to look into taking some lessons.  There are probably some very good vocal coaches in the school that you attend or the teachers there probably would know of some.  

I prefer to encourage people to take lessons as it is one on one attention and help with specific technique.  

But there are some exercises you can try.  What it sounds like is that you your breath support needs some work.  You might be breathing too much from the chest still rather than from the abdomen/ diaphragm.  

So see if you can ask a vocal coach or teacher for some breathing exercises that expand your breath support.  

And also use the breathing exercises and do scales with them.  What you want to do is breathe in through the nose using your abdomen/diaphragm and then as you breathe out, sing a note on a scale.  Sing the note until it is clear.  Move it to your head voice and keep it strong and clear and keep singing the note until it resonates.  

Build your capacity for breath and support and build your range by doing scales.  I think this should help.

Does that help you?

Wanda