Feeling down about a rare voice type, because my school emphasizes vibrato?!
Question: The Music faculty keeps telling me I have a gorgeous voice. I have been in 2 operas (chorus), but I prefer the style of the English school which is pure tone, darker than operatic tone, and more reserved.
I want to specialize in early music vocal performance practice someday. (as as well as musicology in early music).
I am naturally a soprano, yet I was put on alto. While I am enjoying being on alto as it gives me a chance to hear and sing the harmony, I feel kinda dejected from the sopranos. For the Bach, I sang with this same tone (In the Baroque, vibrato was an ornamentation), yet I did not make the finals even when a bunch of the altos made it and used a ton of vibrato. I did not completely straight-tone it, but added color when the music called for it.
So, I don't know if the choir director has something against the way I sound or what.
I was trained in the English school, which focuses on room in the mouth, semi-dark tone, tons of resonance, and senza vibrato.
i feel down.
Answers: The Music faculty keeps telling me I have a gorgeous voice. I have been in 2 operas (chorus), but I prefer the style of the English school which is pure tone, darker than operatic tone, and more reserved.
I want to specialize in early music vocal performance practice someday. (as as well as musicology in early music).
I am naturally a soprano, yet I was put on alto. While I am enjoying being on alto as it gives me a chance to hear and sing the harmony, I feel kinda dejected from the sopranos. For the Bach, I sang with this same tone (In the Baroque, vibrato was an ornamentation), yet I did not make the finals even when a bunch of the altos made it and used a ton of vibrato. I did not completely straight-tone it, but added color when the music called for it.
So, I don't know if the choir director has something against the way I sound or what.
I was trained in the English school, which focuses on room in the mouth, semi-dark tone, tons of resonance, and senza vibrato.
i feel down.
I know EXACTLY how you feel. I prefer singing in the same style as you, and I'm planning on specializing in early music. My voice has little to no vibrato (which is good for the smaller, chamber ensemble I'm in, where we sing a lot of early music, but it can kind of not go with everyone in the large choir ensemble I'm in). I'm lucky if I can get my voice to do enough vibrato to be heard during my solo performances.
Don't feel down about it. I doubt that your choral director is discriminating because of your tendency to sing straight tone. Perhaps you need to build some more confidence and apply that to your voice?
There, there! Let it all out.. yes.. you should feel bad.. the world is unfair...
Feel better now?
:)
Good.
Now, carry on..
are you asking w to do vibrato?
vibrato is almost the same with the voice as it is with an instrument
for instance with a flute, you use your stomache and rapidly (but lightly) push in and out while blowing out.
hehe i doubt this helped,, yeah like the first answer says, life sux =[
How you have been trained to sing is the exact opposite of what the director wants. And unfortunately it is of no benefit to you with this group.
If you want a good idea of what is really going on, please read this from an objective point of view. I don't want to make you feel worse, but I do want you to understand. I have been both a singer and a director. I have studied different styles of singing in the classical arena. You have many things slightly confused as far as music history and terminology.
First of all, your description of pure tone means no vibrato at all (straight tone). This is surely not darker than operatic tone. Operatic singing is much fuller than straight tone. So I think you are slightly confused about the two forms. Not only that, but straight tone singing is not so much the style of English School. Straight tone goes back to monasteries and things of that nature. I have seen plenty of English singers who don't sing straight tone. But I think I understand where you are getting. I can tell you they placed you in the alto section because your tone doesn't blend well with the other sopranos, and it can be masked better in the alto section. This is a trick many directors use. Sometimes if a soprano has good low notes, she might be placed in the alto section. But if you were trained to sing that way, the first one probably suites you best.
Vibrato has nothing to do with ornamentation. With ornamentation, you physically sing specific notes a certain way. Vibrato is SLIGHT variation in pitch, not specific change in pitch. Vibrato should not be huge or wobbly. What directors listen for is a HEALTHY vibrato. You can mask a vibrato without the notes wobbling all over the place. Apparently, the other singers have achieved that. You may indeed have a gorgeous instrument, but your approach is everything. You must learn HOW to use your instrument properly for the style period. Also, if you didn't know, straight tone singing can be fatal to a professional singer in the long run. The top vocal coaches around will tell you how dangerous this type of singing can be on the voice. It is not so much the sound, but the constant physical duration and production is very unhealthy for your chords.
I have sung Bach oratorios. I NEVER sing his oratorios straight toned or semi-dark. It would sound awkward and incorrect in style. It should NOT be sung like a Verdi opera, but there is a stylistic approach to singing Bach lightly without using heavy vibrato. Its light, flowing, and dainty regardless of the text or the heaviness in the context. If you are singing with a dark tone or if your resonance is overpowering, you honestly wouldn't blend well for Baroque. The Baroque period of music should NEVER be sung dark. I have a heavy voice, but I ALWAYS lighten up for Bach or Handel pieces.
I know this is a lesson in life that all singers encounter in some way, but you must learn how to retrain your thoughts of singing. From your description, the training you have received will come out sounding muffled regardless of how beautiful your instrument is. Remember, what you want to sound like may not be what the director wants to hear. When auditioning from now on, get the tone from the back of your throat and project more. Get that straight toned theory out of your head, and learn how to properly use your vibrato with your voice teacher. I can promise if you auditioned for any other director, the result would be the same unfortunately.
The great thing about it is, you can change. It isn't the end of the world. If you have a great instrument, you can get what you want! Whatever you do, don't take it personal, and don't think the director doesn't like you. He/she is just looking out for the results he/she wants. I know it hurts, as all singers have been in that position. But take it as a learning experience. It doesn't mean you can't sing. It just means you need to change your focus. It will take time to unlearn those habits, but it can be done. Work on it with your voice teacher, and keep your head up! I am sure there will be other opportunities where you will be ready for the challenge!