Classical singing

[silverpeal]

Since I'm more of a singer than a pianist, I thought for fun I'd post a clip.  This is me singing "Ridente la calma" by Mozart.  I have studied classical singing and bel canto technique but I'm just an amateur.

Critiques, suggestions always welcome.  Cotton balls provided upon request. 

https://media.putfile.com/ridente

[pianistimo]

it would be ok if you were a boy soprano, but obviously you are a mature young woman.  come down an octave.  i want to hear the 'you' that is rarely presented.  high range doesn't impress as much as tone.  just warm up and keep stretching your range, but only sing notes that have a full rounded sound.  you high ones are piercing and uncomfortable to listen to.  it may be that as you progress with your range, you will suddenly hit some moments where 3-4 or more notes will suddenly become easier to sing.  then keep adding these to widen your rep.

that's my advice.  i'm not a singer, just an accompanist.  better to ask a professional singer probably.  they might tell you to keep on doing what you are doing. 

[chopiabin]

I think your singing is pretty good, but sounds more "broadway soprano" ( more nasal-frontal resonance) than operatic soprano. I also agree with pianistimo that your highest notes tend to be a bit screamy, not warm and resonant.

[silverpeal]

Thank you both for listening and for the feedback.

I'll try to utilize more "back space" in the tone and see what kinds of vocal colors show up.

[asyncopated]

Hi,

I'm taking vocal lessons as an amature as well.  I think you have a beautiful voice.  The speakers on my computer are puny, so they don't do your voice justice.  Here are a few comments.  I'm sure you have a voice coach.  What I say will probably not be very accurate, take them only as suggestions.

It still think there is room to stretch the legato-line more especially in between the words in places like "ridente" when you jump an octave... difficult jump.  Easier only because you are going down the octave and not up.

From my speakers you sound like you are using a lot of head voice and a lot of resonance is in the mask (as mentioned).  An opera style would require more chest voice, which you are right to say "back space" - or a yawning sensation in your mouth can be used to get a better chest voice.

The high notes have a low focus.  I know it's difficult to do,  I have the same problem.  It sounds almost a semitone low because of the low focus. You are actually hitting the note... just not right on. 

Also for opera, as opposed to choral, you are allowed to cover the high notes.  I.e. match all vowels (especially ii ) to an ooo sound.  I also think you can afford to darken your oo and uu sound a little.  This will help with lowering the larynx.  Sometimes the vocal chords go up on the high notes, you will have to lower your jaw and open your throat.  Instead of pushing the high notes (I do this as well)  try just breathing them out.  I.e. do a dry run of breathing out a few times without actually vocalising and only after, sing the note.

The last thing is that your vowels need to meld.  This is another big difference between opera singers and singing in a choir.  The clarity of vowel is not essential.  A unified colour to the sound that is more important.

There is a nice flow and vibrato in your voice.  The breath seems well surpported.  Your lower range seems to be comfortable, although probably not your most powerful notes.  You do try and keep most of your tone in one place -- that is good.  Your tone sounds projected and in front.  That's a great thing.

Thanks for sharing.

al.

[silverpeal]

asyncopated, wow thanks so much for the very detailed and insightful feedback.  I found your suggestions and observations very  helpful and even jotted down some notes for next time I see my teacher so that we can look at and work on some of these issues.

Having a light voice, my first teacher encouraged me to get a lot of frontal mask "ring and ping" resonance to help me project.  I think that now that I've got that going, it's time to add more back space resonance to balance out the tone.  I know exactly what you mean and I think if I can work on it, it will help take out the edgy quality of the high notes and will mellow the middle.

Best of luck to you with your own singing; you know your stuff.

Laura