[musictlk] struggling with high notes

Tue Sep 16 23:47:00 UTC 2014

Hi,

My band teacher constantly bugs us about holding out notes, 
staggering our breathing, and more.  The best way to do this is 
practice.  When you breathe in, let your stomach expand, but keep 
your shoulders back and relaxed.  Make sure the air comes from 
deeper down in your stomach, rather then your chest.  Coming from 
the chest is good, when short breaths are needed, but when 
holding out notes, (or in my case, playing clarinet), the air 
needs to come from the stomach.  Shoulders relaxed and open up 
your throat a little.  This helps the air come through much 
better.  Sit up straight, shoulders back and relaxed, breathe 
from the diaphragm, and you should be good.

 ----- Original Message -----
From: Vejas Vasiliauskas via musictlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org
To: Linda Mentink <mentink at frontiernet.net>,Music Talk Mailing 
List <musictlk at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 16:07:03 -0700
Subject: Re: [musictlk] struggling with high notes

Hi all,
I am also new to a large choir, and I have been following this
thread because it really interests me.  I was wondering if maybe
you could give me suggesttions for my situation.
I am a tenor in my high-school choir.  I can only really
comfortably sing in one octave plus a few notes up and a few
notes down from there.  I'm having trouble holding notes.  If the
note is one I can reach, I can hold it for a little while but
then I start losing my breath and have to take a breath before
continuing to hold.  For higher notes which I can barely reach,
I'm find it extremely difficult to hold and often have to stop
singing as it is such a strain.  Sometimes when I try to hold a
note I get a pull in a muscle and I feel like this might have to
do with the way I am holding it.  Do you have any possible
suggesttions on how I can hold the notes better?
Also, about this alto/soprano discussion: how do I know if I'm
really supposed to be a tenor or a bass? My teacher currently has
me as a tenor and I seem to be doing fine with that.  There are
some higher notes but I can't sing low enough for bass.
This is the second real choir that I have participated in, since
I am also in my church choir.  In the church choir there are not
that many people and I usually just sing the melody, so the tenor
part is new to me.
Vejas

----- Original Message -----
From: Linda Mentink via musictlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org
To: Kelsey Nicolay <piano.girl0299 at gmail.com>,Music Talk Mailing
List <musictlk at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 12:43:45 -0500
Subject: Re: [musictlk] struggling with high notes

Hi Kelsey,

You have gotten a lot of helpful hints.  I will add that, though
it
was suggested that you breathe from your butt, more correctly,
when
at home, place your hands on your waste so that your thumbs point
toward your belly button.  As you go higher in your range, do all
others have suggested; Atry to keep the small of your back wide
by
pressing against the other four fingers on each hand.  The more
you
can work the back and lower body, the better.  That will take the
tension from the upper and front.  Please call me if you want to
talk
this through.

Blessings,

Linda

t 09:40 PM 9/15/2014, you wrote:
Hello,
I know this is not related to blindness, but I could use some
advice.  I am in a community choir and really enjoy it.  I've
made a
lot of good friends.  However, in several of our pieces, the
altos
have to sing some notes that a soprano would normally sing.  I
sing
second alto, so I am struggling quite a bit.  When I say high
notes,
I mean notes in the fifth octave.  We have several fifth octave
D's
and E's.  I try to sing the notes, but it seems I just cannot get
up
there.  I cannot afford a voice teacher right now except maybe
one
lesson a month.  I think I am breathing correctly, but it's
difficult to tell since we sit for 90 percent of rehearsal.  Does
anyone have any suggestions on how to not struggle so much on the
high notes? Should I talk to the director and see if he will
allow
me to sing tenor on those notes? I would appreciate any
suggestions
anyone might have.
Thanks,
Kelsey Nicolay

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