AboutPamela Thomas Expertise Questions on Opera performance, repertoire, vocal technique, acting for opera. I have some 20 years experience in opera in both leading roles and chorus. I have sung with New York City Opera since 1981. I have studied voice in NYC for over 20 years and have also taught technique and coached singers in acting.
Question Hi,
I am a 21 year old light soprano studying classical voice- and I seem to be having trouble in my high range on Baby Doe's 'the Willow Song'. I have NEVER had trouble with my high range before, and I can comfortably sing scales up to a high F and whistle up to A above that without difficulty- yet I am having a great deal of trouble jumping an octave to and sustaining a high D. The note cracks and jumps between the two adjacent pitches unless I hold it straight tone. This has never happened before and I'm a bit worried. Do you have any idea what could be causing it, and can you suggest any strategies to fix the problem?
Thanks so much for your help!
Answer Hi Leah,
I wish I could hear and see you - then I could be more helpful. But given what you have said about the ease of your high range it may be that when you make the octave jump you are carrying up too much "weight" - but in any case clearly you are not letting the voice move into the correct place...
I would try this exercise: start with C and jump up a 4th to F and back. Do it on Ah and do it quickly - don't hold the bottom note... take this up to your high F and back..
Once you've done that a couple of times (going up from C to C and back) - then do the jump and hold the top note for a bit...
By doing the 4th jumps quickly you allow the voice to "flip over" naturally.. and you keep the extra weight out of the top.
Then when you try the octave jump (and try it on lower notes as well) try to get the same feel that you get when you go the 4th jumps...
You don't say whether you are studying with a teacher now - but you should be - if you can afford it. And if so your teacher should be able to help you here.
Try this - maybe it will help. (make sure you keep your jaw down & relaxed and the mouth open)
