Vocal Range - Myths and Facts - P1

By Jeannie Deva

May 2007

Many believe we are each born with a certain vocal range and that�s it. This is true. However, what they don�t realize is this: Without adequate vocal technique and exercise, they will never discover just how much range they were really born with!

It amazes me how easily people can be fooled into believing they have less ability and potential than they really have. There are a few possible reasons for thinking that vocal range can not be expanded.

Reason One: Some people simply don�t know how to expand the range of a voice and rather than admit it, just say it can�t be done.

Exercise with a Song for Range Expansion

Here are three exercises you can try. Do them in the exact order given as each one builds off of the previous.

Directions: Select a song that has a range you find just a bit challenging. You�re going to sing the melody of this song without lyrics. It may take you a while to perfect this, so be patient and go through this exercise as many times as it takes to be able to remember the melody without singing the lyrics as well as to apply the following directions:

1) Keep your mouth open slightly and your lips relaxed. Sing the melody using the vowel �Ee.� Do this smoothly and slowly, even if the song is an up tempo one. Work on singing the �Ee� vowel without muscular pinching. Keep the same pronunciation of this vowel regardless of change of pitch. It can sometimes help to think the sound of the vowel flowing forward as you go through the melody.

Note: �Ee� is just a sound, and not a �tight� vowel. It is NOT made by your lips, so you can keep them relaxed and let the vowel come naturally from inside your body.

When you have completed this first step, sing the song through with lyrics and notice any differences. Then go on to step two.

2) Again, keep your mouth slightly open and your lips relaxed. Sing the same melody using a very bratty sound of an "Ee." It can help to scrunch up your nose as though you have just smelled something bad. With your nose in this position (it will probably pull up your upper lip), slowly say the word: �Eew.� To sing your melody, you�re going to use the sound you make when you start that word. You can feel some vibration under your nose and in the front of your hard palate (the roof of your mouth) when you use this approach. Stay consistent with this sound as you slowly and smoothly sing the melody of your song, all the way through. If you have to repeat any section of the song to do it right (per these directions), do so and once you�ve got it, continue. Remember, to get the results of this strange but successful approach, you have to find the brattiest sound you can and get the palate and under your nose vibrating.

When you have completed this second step, sing the song through with lyrics and notice any differences. Now go on to step three.

3) With your mouth slightly open and lips relaxed, again sing the melody of this song using the vowel sound: �A� as in the word �can� or �apple.� Again, work on maintaining the same pronunciation of this vowel as you go from note to note. If you change it, repeat that phrase until you can maintain consistency of pronunciation.

When you have completed this third step, sing the song through with lyrics and notice any differences.

Additional Pointers

Do not try to use your jaw, lips or any head bobs to pronounce the vowel or change notes. Your head, lips and jaw should remain relaxed and unmoving as your voice goes through the melody. Remember, this is an exercise, not a performance. We are not looking for style right now. If you need to practice this to get accustomed to applying the directions and pointers, it will be well worth your efforts. As long as you learn how to follow these directions through practice, you will notice your voice and range improving with each step.

The above are not by any means the full answer to range expansion, but they do help and can begin to make a difference. For a complete program to accomplish a wide, seamless range of multi-tonal possibilities, work with my vocal improvement course: �The Contemporary Vocalist� Series 1 and 2.

In next month�s vocal tip, I�ll cover another reason why people think vocal range can not be improved and why it is that the terms �Chest Voice� and �Head Voice� can be confusing and limit your potential as a singer.

Have a great month!
Jeannie Deva