Musical Composition, Theory and Songwriting/range

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Expert: Penny Nichols - 5/17/2009


Question
what range is e3 -c#6?

i also sing opera if i can sing the phantom of the opera what range would I be?  what range is a light lyric soprano?

thanks

Answer
A first soprano's range is from Bb right below middle C to b3 above.  I am sorry I am not a big fan of the Phantom of the Opera, so I don't have a score to consult.  I would just listen to a recording of the song you want to sing and then match the starting and ending notes on the piano.  Then you will know what key the recording is in and then you can adjust the key to fit your voice.  A light lyric soprano would be a first soprano's range and maybe a little above that.  By -c#6 are you referring to a minor c#6 chord or something else?  I hope this information is helpful to you.

Best wishes, Penny Nichols

Musical Composition, Theory and Songwriting

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Penny Nichols

Expertise

I can answer all kinds of questions regarding singing techniques, practice, performance, vocal recording technique and harmony vocal arranging.

Experience

I have been a professional singer/songwriter and vocal arranger and teacher in the music business since 1965.

Organizations
BMI, Folk Alliance, SummerSongs, Inc. (I am the founding director)

Publications
Singer Magazine

Education/Credentials
I have a doctorate in Music Education from Harvard.

Awards and Honors
Platinum record for my vocals on Jimmy Buffett's Son of a Son of a Sailor, 3 times nominated for a Grammy in the background singing category, MVP in the motivational singing category of the Assoc. of Multi-image Assoc. Annual awards two years in a row.

Past/Present Clients
I have sung with, recorded with or opened shows for Mort Sahl, The Byrds, The Dillards, Dillard and Clark Expedition, John Kay (Steppenwolf), The Association and Big Brother and the Holding Co. (Janis Joplin), Steve Miller, Quicksilver Messenger Service, 13th Floor Elevator, Chocolate Watchband, Jefferson Airplane, Dan Hicks & his Hot Licks, Cream (the Santa Monica Civic auditorium 1968), Little Feat in concert.  I wrote and performed commercials for Toyota's campaign to plant a tree for every car bought, Carnation Dairies, and produced a public service announcement for the Navajo Nation called "Black Mesa" to protest the misuse of the land around the Four Corners power stations in Arizona. In 1977, while working with Emitt Rhodes on a record for Elektra, I joined Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefers.  I appeared in the movie FM with the band, toured the U.S. and earned a Platinum Record for my singing on Son of a Son of a Sailor. Also, I've recorded with Art Garfunkle (Fate for Breakfast) Suzi Quatro, Danny O'Keefe, Yvonne Elliman, Jennifer Warnes, Albert Brooks, The Credibility Gap, Steve Gillette and earned a Grammy nomination for my work on Arlo Guthrie's album The Power of Love.  In addition, I have recorded a series of singing lessons which have been sold world-wide by Homespun Tapes since 1985.

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