h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's struck me that there seem to be a lot of people on this site who are singers - there seem to be lots of you all over the place taking part in musicals, church choirs, and concerts

So it seems like a good place to ask: How could I improve my singing voice?

I don't really have a *bad* singing voice as such. Within a certain range it's ok-ish. But how would I expand that range?

I'm not asking because I want to be on stage or sing in public. I just like singing, and I'd love to be able to do it better.

Practice, practice, practice, but take some advice or instruction about techniques before you start experimenting, so you don't strain it.

Join a choir but one with a really good choirmaster/mistress who knows what they're doing.

Sing along with the radio, or any other music you hear. Aim to hit the notes straight off, without sliding up to them ("vaccuum cleaner", they call it here. I call it the Vera Lynn syndrome - she used to start at least a third below where she should have done and revved up to the right note).

What sort of singing are you looking for?

As for expanding your range - it's what you would expect: just work gradually up to the higher notes and down to the lower notes.

Don't do this too early in the morning, and never strain your throat.

Breathing is extremely important.

When you get together with Mal, have a bash at singing duets.

Probably nothing you haven't already thought of yourself, but that's what occurs to me at this late hour without any reference books to hand.

I can hear the Vera Lynn/vacuum cleaner thing. I know what you mean by that.

I don't have a particular kind of singing in mind - and I'm not talking about being able to sing loud. Stretching the vocal chords, maybe - just reaching a bit higher or a bit deeper than I already can.

Sorry - my vocabulary for discussing music is crap, to tell you the truth.

If you happened to sing with a choral group, you would be grouped by range. Not many people change the range in which they sing.

Is there a particular range in which you would like to sing?

The Andes?

Most chaps are naturally a baritone - that's kind of in the middle - which is then extended by practice either higher (tenor) or lower (bass) depending on which feels more natural.

Singing more ios the answer,in a choir, in the shower, along with the radio. But when you do, sing mindfully, and pay attention to what you sound like. Also, i try not to sing too quietly, as at is a skill in itself. Sing at a volume hat feels good - sod the neighbours!

Good diction helps. Shaping the vowels properly can help you from going flat.

1. Pretend you're Patrick Stewart, or Ian McKellan. Don't just say the words, project them. Practise that way of putting reverberation into your voice. Now sing like that. Pretend you're an opera singer, and make your voice sound like one.

2. Learn to sing in tune. Sing the tune "Happy Birthday to You". Have you got a piano? Or a guitar? When you get to the word "to", go to your piano or guitar and find the note you just sang on. Play it. Now sing the whole of Happy Birthday while hammering out that one note against it. See how the tune fits against that note (which is called the "tonic" or "do"). You should end the tune on that note.

3. Learn how to breathe. Lie on your back on the floor. Breath in and out. Notice the way your shoulders and ribcage don't move. It's all done with your stomach. Stand up and try and sing the same way, keeping your shoulders steady, and moving your stomach in and out to control your breath.

This is very banal advice, but I think what matters just as much as training and technique is feeling the emotion that's in the song you're singing. If you try something that you can't really relate to on an emotional level, it won't work.
Pick any song that touches something inside of you. Learn the lyrics and sing or just hum along loudly ( the neighbours ). Keep up a straight regiment doing this. Twice a day is a must.
Keep doing this for three or four weeks, and I'm sure you'll succeed!

Your advice is not at all banal. People love music because it touches their hearts in some way. Singing with feeling matters a great deal. Of course, taste also helps. Why bother with mediocre material when you could sing something terrific? [On the other hand, there are people who can sing something mediocre and make it *sound* special. if you ever reach the opoint where you can do that, you won't need our advice any more. ]

Confidence and relaxed approach.

Difficult to develop if not a natural (but I have it on very good - first hand - authority that port, er, lubricates the vocal cords).

I was bought a few lessons for a birthday pressie by my ex (what was she saying?) and that was helpful.

Occasionally you may see a singing or voice workshop about which may also be helpful AND fun.

These blokes are great singers and will often hold a workshop alongside a gig. No UK dates for this year yet, but they will be coming (of course, you may not be in the UK).

http://www.spookymen.com.au/gigs.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfP21U15r_A&feature=relmfu

PP