I don’t have “breaks” in my range! Is that bad?
Today in chorus people sang their all-state songs in front of the class. Their voices would be airy and crack when transitioning into their head voice. The chorus teacher said that it’s their vocal break. I haven’t really heard my voice do that. To me it sounds clear throughout my range even if my middle register can be a little breathy when I don’t support. My voice teacher says I have pretty high vocal breaks and my tone changes somewhere right before the high A but if that’s true it’s so subtle. Is this a bad thing or a good thing? Does it mean most of my voice is my chest voice? Or, is my head voice strong? Do I have more support than most people my age (I’m 16)? All the other sopranos and even the altos have a break kind of high that makes them breathy or flat and my second break I guess is higher than theirs and makes my voice brighter. Is this normal?
ANSWER: Great observation about the “breaks” in other young voices.
While some singers have a manifestly obvious ‘break’ (sometimes also known as “lift” or “passaggio” or “transition point”) that makes sound almost resemble a yodel (depending where in the range it occurs), if those same young singers pursue singing as a career studying voice with a teacher, their aim is going to be learn to “smooth” those areas over so that the range sounds seamless (without breaks of any kind). As you have noted about yourself, not everyone feels these breaks … and that is a great blessing, because it means that you don’t have to worry about the color of your tone suddenly changing, or have to spend months and years learning how to even out the tone between areas of your vocal range. So, REJOICE … you’re miles ahead of folk who experience breaks and you won’t have that hurdle to worry about.
Singing “seamlessly” doesn’t mean that you are singing predominantly in “chest” or “head”, but rather that as you sing from high to low your voice is negotiating all the range in a way that “mixes” those feelings at the appropriate times so that no break exists, or is perceptible.
Having not heard you I can’t answer your question about whether or not you have more support than most people your age. Since you are studying voice privately, the likelihood is that you are giving more of the kind of support you need than perhaps others your age know how to do.
Maddie, at 16 your voice has a lot of developing yet to do. So, my advice is to make good habits – those that your teacher is teaching you, so that your voice matures and develops in the best possible way … and continue to love singing in the process!
For more on this subject you may want to check out the entries on “Vocal Registers.”
Best wishes.
PS. By the way, if your teacher is right about your breaks being in the vicinity of G or G#, they are indeed “high” and may be an indication of your voice type (at the moment) … soprano! 
And yes, you sound perfectly normal … even blessed.
Tags: chest voice, head voice, seamless range, Vocal Registers
October 10th, 2009 at 10:16 am
As a voice teacher of primarily high school students, I agree completely! However, I avoid using the terminology “break” in my studio. Yes, it’s a yodel, and it’s a pathway that you need to learn how to negotiate. If your passaggio/transition points are smooth and you feel connected from top to bottom of your register, Brava! That is an accomplishment. Also, I have found that frequently young singers don’t “feel” much of anything in the voice, when it is free of tension. Don’t worry. DO analyze the sound you’re producing: is it clean, clear, consistent, confident (my “C list”), free, easy to produce, dependable? These are what you should be listening/feeling for as you sing. It sounds like you’re in a good situation – continue to be aware of what YOUR voice does when it’s at its best. You do not need to compare it to anyone else’s – as your body is different, so is your voice. Take care & continue singing!
October 10th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Maddie, As you see from the above comment, different teachers use and prefer different terminology … and feel strongly about what they do.
However, know that your questions are safe with me regardless of the terminology you use.
I should say that with regard to the subject of “breaks” “lifts” “transition points” “passaggi” I tend to opt for the choice of the above teacher in avoiding that jargon when possible. But, your question is a good one, worthy of a straight answer. Blessings. Dr. A.