Vocal Music Advice

Hello! I was just wondering how long I might expect it will take me to rebuild a formerly strong voice.
I sang for many years as a part of my school choirs and as an actress in both school and community theatre. When it was time for college, however, I came up short on tuition and did not end up attending an academy for arts. Instead of striving, I settled for a private state university, majoring in psychology and writing, and (depressed… and relinquished my real outlet. Frustrated with my lack of efficacy as a performer, I believe I have let my abilities dwindle from disuse). I literally have not sung a single note in over two years. Let alone that, I have become utterly quiet and have spoken, in addition, very little over the course of the past two years.

Recently, I realized that my passion for arts-involvement is not something I can merely “get over” in greater quantities of time but rather a permanent part of myself that will merely continue to ache. I am looking into private vocal lessons; however, I am worried. I went from singing daily to a two-year hiatus. Is there ANY hope? And will it take years?

What can I expect to sound like? How long will it take before I sound like I used to? Will it ever be the same? Can I ever surpass my former level even, or are my previous abilities the best I could hope for at this point?
These are my many questions; I apologize but am hoping you can help me apprise what are the realistic parameters of my situation. Thank you so very much; I look forward to your advice.

Answer: Dear Lacey,

You’re only 20 … so there is DEFINITELY hope!  You can make a full recovery.  Be encouraged.

Having given you this encouragement, I should warn you that you need to start slow … and forget seeing a teacher for about 6 months.  Follow a regimen SOMETHING LIKE the following:

Weeks 1 – 3, Sometime shortly after you are fully awake (maybe after breakfast) find a favorite book or magazine, and read aloud for 15 minutes (not two hours!).  Your voice needs to get back to phonating!!  If your work place does not let you talk or interact, then read aloud again when you return home … and start calling your friends on the cell phone for 5-minute chats.  Start using your voice.  Do this EVERY DAY.  Hum your favorite songs around the apartment/house.

Weeks 4-6, Continue starting early in the day reading aloud.  At some point later in the day, vocalize (singing) for 15 minutes.  Your vocalizing can either be singing songs you know, humming, vocalizing tunes on open vowels or just vocal exercises like scales on all the primary vowels.  Do this EVERY DAY.  You have started to use your voice again, and it needs to feel comfortable and easy and not over-taxed.

Weeks 7-12, Read aloud for 15-minutes early in the day.  Later in the day (it can be evening), warm up your voice vocalizing easily and without strain for 15 minutes.  Follow this with 10 minutes of vocal rest, and then sing songs that are comfortable in your voice for another 15 minutes.

Weeks 13-16,

a) Read aloud for 15-minutes early in the day … be sure that it is interesting and that you find yourself becoming EXPRESSIVE … reading in a communicative manner.

b) It’s at this point that you should locate and join a well established community, church or synagogue choir that rehearses at least once a week.  Don’t be surprised if your voice feels tired after those first two or three rehearsals.

c) Vocalize for 20 minutes now on your warm ups, and begin to explore the parameters of your range again, as well as start using vocal exercises that demand some power and flexibility … say in your last 5 minutes of the 20-minute warm up.  Also, “play” with your voice … make animal sounds and sirens, and coos … and see what its capabilities are.

By month 5, you should feel weird if you have not used your voice for a day.  Let the daily routine of reading aloud early in the day and singing later in the day be just that … a natural routine.  During this month, begin to resurrect one or two of the favorite songs you once learned for performances earlier … three or four years ago.  By now, you may well find that your voice has MORE capabilities than it did 3 years ago … and you may well be “itching” to find a reliable voice teacher with whom to study.  Work up two or three songs to the best of your ability so that during your first “audition” lesson, you can present to your teacher a fair representation of your current abilities.  Be sure that you have found a trustworthy voice teacher.

Lacey, you will likely face two dangers in this process of “returning to singing.”  The first will be attempting to do too much, too fast … getting yourself hoarse … and very discouraged.  The second danger will be to not make your “return journey” a routine.  This has to become a daily activity, something you enjoy, and something you get used to again.  A once-in-a-while practice marathon will only result in disappointment and discouragement.

Do I think you can regain what was lost?  Yes.  Start slow, then make it part of your daily lifestyle … you’ll be so glad to be singing again!

My suggested “regimen” is just that … something you CAN do, starting slowly (like an exercise program).  You should not think of my time line as something set in stone.  If you find that you can progress faster EASILY … then do what you are comfortable doing.  Likewise, if your voice and body indicate that you need longer, then take longer on each stage.  Remember, you’re returning to a life style and an art form you love.

Best wishes.

Hi, I’m 16.
I’ve got a ‘low voice’ with a range from a C two octaves below middle C to a D just above middle C. I find that my voice keeps shifting up and down a few tones, regardless of the time of day. For example I can sometimes hit a B-flat (two octaves below middle C and not reach middle C). What should I do to keep my notes and improve the quality of singing.

Answer: Colet, thanks for the question.  First I must say is that you’re perfectly normal!

You’re 16, and voices, male voices especially, tend to be unstable both in range and quality.  While your range suggests that you are a bass now, the next 5 years is going to include a marked development in which range and tone color (quality) will mature and possibly even change (range).

What you need to concentrate on now until you start studying voice seriously (possibly in your 18th year), is to sing clearly and easily in the part of your range in which you are most comfortable, rather than concentrating on the low and high “barriers.”  Besides singing bass in choirs, participate in some dramatic events in which you are called upon to speak clearly (without yelling) and cultivate your expressive abilities.  It’s natural to be concerned about an unstable range and quality.  But, take it from me … don’t be.  This phase of vocal maturity (or immaturity) will pass and become more secure.  Enjoy being one of the few in your school who can reach those low notes in the bass section of your choir!

Best wishes.

I am 17, and a male singer with a soprano voice.   I can reach the C5 and more (higher) than that but I want to sing the whistle register.  I have notice that when I have opened my mouth widely, I have reached the C6 and higher, and when i do so my voice is more light and sounding like a bird in that ‘whistle voice’.   Please, I want you to give me a good technique to sing the whistle voice without problems like Mariah Carey and Minnie Ripperton.

Answer:
You are a rarity if you actually have a soprano voice … especially if you have not experienced any vocal change that has given you access to lower notes like most men.  I am aware of others with  whom this is the case … and you are rare.

If you are singing notes that are two octaves above middle C (and higher) then you are already in the “whistle register” area.  You accurately described the ability to access these notes while opening your mouth “widely.”  What you need to be watchful of is that the sound is not “heavy” and “tense”, but be sure that it is without a lot of muscular tension and light.  At 17, you don’t need to be spending a lot of time up there.  Access those notes lightly, and descend to lower notes again.  If you are wanting to develop your voice – including those highest notes, you need to find a voice teacher who has experience with voices like yours.

That is my advice.  Best wishes.