Expert: David Neustein - 9/10/2010

Question
I am a mezzosoprano, so I have a naturally low to medium-pitch voice. I auditioned for the role of Lina, and I figured out how to sound like her, but my throat hurts very bad after trying to "Lina-ize" my voice. The callbacks list will be posted on Saturday, and if I am on the list, I will probably need to "sing" What's Wrong With Me? and do some dialogue.

I don't want to lose my voice (I sing in choir a lot and musicals are my life), but I want to try out to play Lina since I can't dance very well. lol

Any tips to creating that nasally, high-pitched voice she has without spraining a vocal chord? Thanks!

Answer
First, the nasal should come from the nasal cavity, not the throat.

Part of it is about focal point. Standard American dialect, which I would think you speak with, has the focal point is directly in the center of your soft palate. For nasal, the focal point is further back (the spot you are able to touch in the back on the top of your mouth)

The other part is having full support from your diaphragm (Not your throat) to "Lina-ize" your voice.

This should help. Hope you get a callback. Let me know.

Break a leg!