Sunday, May 8, 2011

Advice on Singing Techniques - Vibrato

By Pamela C Smith


It is not unusual to find opera singers making magnificent and effective use of singing techniques such as vibrato. However, not everybody shares their passion for this technique as most feel that its too difficult to learn. Many even go far enough to say that it is an artificial extension of the voice. But actually vibrato is a natural feature of your voice but it is not particularly easy to learn. Many times the only thing that is needed to develop vibrato is the elimination of poor singing habits. Everybody from David Bowie to classical singers like Lucianno Pavarotti are seen using vibrato from time to time. The following tips are perfect for beginners who want to learn more about vibrato.

The first thing to do before you incorporate vibrato in your singing is to determine if you really want to add it to your voice. Even though vibrato sounds most pleasant in the work of your favorite singer you have to understand that it must've taken him/her years of practice to develop it. So don't force yourself to sing vibrato because doing so will make you sound unpleasant. The best way is to consult a voice coach before making the decision.

Your posture is extremely important to your singing and the way you sound. Think of the body posture of an opera or classical singer. Its important to keep your body straight so that the sound is produced from the depths of your lungs. You cannot get the vibrato effect by singing from your throat.

How well you sing entirely depends on your breathing. A warm-up session with an adequate number of breathing exercises will not only condition the throat but also the lungs for deep breathing. The correct breathing technique to achieve the right notes is to breathe in deeply using the lower part of your lungs and exhaling slowly and steadily like you are breathing out through a straw.

Also a relaxed body is important to produce pleasant vibrato effects. So the next step after deep breathing should be to relax all the parts of your body like neck, head, throat shoulders etc. Take a few minutes before you actually start singing to stretch yourself and release the tension.

After the deep breathing and relaxation you are ready to start. Begin by inhaling deeply and singing the syllable 'ah' on a sustained note. This will help you to keep your throat open. Remember that your voice should be relaxed while singing. Continue practicing and the vibrato will develop naturally. If patience is not one of your virtues, you can quicken the process by using your finger tips to push in and release your diaphragm.




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