VOCALS
FROM CLASSICAL TO CONTEMPORARY : SIMPLE STYLIZATION STRATEGIES | Renée Maranan
One of the most common questions I get asked is this : “ I ’ m trained as a classical singer , but my church sings mostly contemporary worship music . How can I make myself sound less classical when I sing ?”
It ’ s not always easy to cross over from one genre to another , especially genres that are on two different ends of the stylistic spectrum . And when most of our training focuses on one specific genre , especially one with very defined stylistic expectations such as Western classical music , our voices tend to specialize . The body masters the coordinations required for facilitating the qualities that characterize the music that we most often sing , to the point where those coordinations become second nature . This is why a shift in stylistic focus can be difficult . It takes time , practice , and the right set of tools . The changes won ’ t usually happen instantaneously , so it ’ s a good idea to think in the long-term when it comes to cross training . Below are a few tools that you can try .
TALK-SINGING Contemporary singing more closely resembles speech than Western classical singing , so a good place to start is by connecting to a speech-like sound . One way to do this is by speaking the lyrics – literally reading the words out loud as though it were a poem or a monologue . Feel the way your voice resonates or buzzes in your body . Tune in and try to map what parts of your body you tend to engage when producing a spoken sound . Then try to “ speak ” the lyrics on one pitch without losing the feel and engagement that you found when talking . Once you ’ ve been able to do that , you can try to “ speak ” the lyrics on the melody , starting with one line at a time , all the while maintaining a spoken quality and feel .
GO ! GO ! GO ! This exercise is great for singers who struggle with getting a strong sound in their chest voice . The word “ GO ” is a great tool for encouraging better vocal fold closure thanks to the G consonant , while the O vowel helps to keep the sound from becoming too nasal . Try saying the word “ GO !” while imagining that you are angry , stressed , or annoyed . Observe how your voice sounds and feels and notice how you are engaging your body to create this sound . Try to substitute this syllable for the lyrics in one line of your song , still applying the same emotion and its corresponding coordination . What changed ? What happens if you dial down the emotion a little bit at a time , so that you can more closely match the stylistic requirements of the song without entirely losing the coordination you gained ?
USE VIBRATO INTENTIONALLY … AND SPARINGLY Vibrato is definitely used as a stylization tool in contemporary music , but not as liberally as in Western classical music . Try playing with less vibrato in your songs , only fluttering it in towards the end or eliminating it altogether . You ’ ll notice that this changes the texture of the melody , but it also affects the timbre of your voice . Not sure how to control your vibrato ? Check out my article in the May 2023 issue !
ARTICULATION Contemporary singers tend to have a more casual way of articulating , much closer to the way we might articulate in conversation . Not sure how to do this in singing ? Listen to a contemporary singer and break down the way they are pronouncing the words . You might notice that some of the syllables are emphasized , while others are de-emphasized . Some consonants are punched up , while others are softened . Some vowels are widened while others are narrowed . Play with this in your own singing ; write it out or notate it if you feel like a visual aid is helpful !
REMEMBER : EVERY VOICE IS UNIQUE Not every voice will respond to all of these tools , but there are plenty of others to try . Depending on how your voice has been shaped over the years , some of these changes may be harder to make than others . But contemporary music is built on individuality and uniqueness , so take this as inspiration to own and celebrate your sound no matter where you are in the process . After all , the voice you have is the voice that God gave you . In the end , it ’ s not the stylization of the song that matters , but the sincerity of the heart that sings it .
GOT A SINGING QUESTION ? Send an email to hello @ reneemaranan . com with “ WM Vocals Question ” in the subject line !
Renée Maranan Renée is a vocal instructor , voice teacher trainer , and life coach , with over 20 years of experience working with singers , vocal instructors , and performers from all over the world . www . ReneeMaranan . com Instagram @ reneemaranan
28 October 2024 Subscribe for Free ...