Okay...Try this again (Audition Questions) w/voice clips

[Aigoo]

Posted: 5/22/05 at 12:14am

Posted this on the other message board. Got one suggestion [Not saying it was a bad one! Just saying I'm open to more suggestions and opinions.]

The show is Aida, and I'm not very sure how the audition process works, but I get one minute. So far, I've decided to sing a small excerpt from Shadowland [The Lion King]. I know...the general idea of the show, so I guess I'm okay on that part.

I'm 14 (15 in October)
<--- I look like that (Except shorter hair)
My range is from Low C to G3 (G above High High C)
I can belt to about...mmm....High D ish E?


Also, I'm trying to go for Amneris. Just seems like the character would fit me better. So, I was thinking of singing Shadowland from

Shadowland
The leaves have fallen
This shadowed land
This was our home

The river's dry
The ground has broken
So I must go
Now I must go

And where the journey may lead me
Let your prayers be my guide
I cannot stay here, my family
But I'll remember my pride



but now I think I might sing

And where the journey may lead me
Let your prayers be my guide
I cannot stay here, my family
But I'll remember my pride

Prideland I have no choice
My land I will find my way
Tear-stained Lea halalela
Dry land
Take this Take this prayer
With you What lies out there
Fatshe leso Lea halalela.


It seems more..."rockish" sounding than what the beginning sounds like. I don't know, what do you guys suggest?

Updated On: 5/22/05 at 12:14 AM

[Aigoo]

Posted: 5/22/05 at 1:19am

Bizzump

[Aigoo]

Posted: 5/22/05 at 2:15pm

Okay, got some clips up. First one is the last part of "Defying Gravity". Yes, you all know which part. And a little excerpt of Only Hope. Second one is Shadowland.


Also, you may notice some Super Mario music in the background. My brother's playing the SNES. -____-;

Okay, first clip. I'm not very proud of it. I used my throat/chest voice in some places where I shouldn't have. Some of the weird noises are just how my iRiver records. Also, I move around while recording so it might sound different....^____^;

Second clip. OH DEAR. I wanted to shoot myself. It started out "okay", but it got soooooooo bad. Just...please ignore where my voice cracks, and where I can't reach the low E, and where my pitch is off. Just ignore it, okee? ^____^ Jeebus. By the way, this is the song I'm singing for my Aida audition, if you haven't caught on.

http://s22.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=01QA994T2BK853E0O2Q8OSFP94 [DG, Only Hope]
http://s22.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0G38AGWYQGCTT0TQOAM00YYFVD [Shadowland]


I guess any general advice is welcome, too. Please don't shoot me...! >____< If you don't like my voice, just let me know, because I sure as heck don't.

Updated On: 5/22/05 at 02:15 PM

[Mythus]

Posted: 5/22/05 at 4:24pm

Maybe it's just me, but it sounds like you're not taking big enough breaths, and trying to force the air out to hold the notes longer. I won't comment on any pitch problems, since I know it's hard for some people to sing without music. You've got a strong voice, especially on the higher notes, you just need to work on those low notes a little. And - this is just because I'm a diction dictator, but you might want to work on your diction a little. It may sound silly to you to overannunciate (I think that's the right word), but the end of "ground" was lost (in "To those who ground me"), and sounded like "groun". But that's just me being a diction dictator. Overall, the clips were good.

[Aigoo]

Posted: 5/22/05 at 4:28pm

I start to forget about breathing. I have that problem in track, too. I don't know...why...really. I'll work on enunciating, too. (Definitely spelled that wrong).


After listening to it again, I know what you mean by "groun". I'll work on that. Ugh. I can't listen to myself anymore.

EDIT: Wow, I just listened to it on my computer (rather than my headphones) and it sounds like I'm really straining my voice....eww...I've gotta work on that.
Stuff to look out for:
EVERYone deserves a chance...
Take a message back from MeeEeEEeeEeee <- bad transition
I'm flYING high....
Ever gonna bring MEEEE down.
AhHHHHHHahah..

Jesum Crowe.

Updated On: 5/22/05 at 04:28 PM

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 5/22/05 at 4:29pm

"Overall, the clips were good."

From the Paula Abdul of broadwayworld.

[Aigoo]

Posted: 5/22/05 at 4:31pm

""Overall, the clips were good."

From the Paula Abdul of broadwayworld. "


I thought they were pretty bad. I'm someone who knows when I did something right, or something really horrible. This is an example of the latter. I think it's risky putting these clips on here, but my voice teacher doesn't really help me much so I'm hoping you guys can. I'm not planning on studying with her through the summer, so this production of Aida I'm auditioning for, I really hope I'll be cast so it'll keep my voice "in shape".

Like I said, I'm a freshie in singing, and I'll be taking the choir final next year to see if I can make it into the higher choirs, so if I don't have a vocal teacher, it'll be important to maintain my voice. (The production's auditions are Jun 20, 21 and the shows are September 9-11, 16-18.)

Updated On: 5/22/05 at 04:31 PM

[Mythus]

Posted: 5/22/05 at 4:34pm

Overall, the clips were good. I think you're a great person, and I love your earrings. There, now I'm the Paula Abdul of BWW.

[Aigoo]

Posted: 5/22/05 at 4:35pm

I don't have earrings. >______________>





You're hallucinating. It tops it off.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/22/05 at 7:07pm

I would first like to say that it takes a lot of courage to post a clip of yourself in the first place...

The first thing I noticed was PITCH. I am really big on pitch, becuase even non-musicians can tell when your off-pitch. You're pitch is all over the place, and yes... you are singing acepella and it is harder. But on the other hand, as soon as you started singing "Shadowland" you got off-pitch after your chord.

Next... I understand that "Defying Gravity" is a very powerful and belt-ish song, but I honestly had to put the volume down a lot because it was not very pleasant. I think it would have sounded a lot better with a background with it, but just be careful.

Belting is a ton of fun, but the easiest way to lose your voice. If you are straining your voice, you have to stop singing that way. Maybe you're not... but you need to be careful. You don't want to lose your voice by singing this way. Use your diaphram, and you're head voice. You mentioned you didn't have a voice teacher yet, and you will learn a lot from him/her.

~kangaroo

[Aigoo]

Posted: 5/22/05 at 7:18pm

Did I say I didn't have one? Darn it.

I DO have a voice teacher. She's just not very helpful. She gives me literature, and that's about it. I honestly learn more from my friends who are in choir. I really do apologize about my pitch, and usually I have pretty good pitch, but sound-wise, those recordings sounded the best (the way that my house is structured, and the volume of my voice with the position of the recorder is really hard to fiddle around with.)


BLAGH. Pitch is bad. And I'm on the other board ranting about Julie Hanson's pitch.

Updated On: 5/22/05 at 07:18 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/23/05 at 12:52am

I echo everyone's sentiments, and I would go one step further and say to try to make the song your own. It may be easy to copy what Idina Menzel does on the recording, but if you make it yours, it'll be easier to own it. Since you said this was for a chorale of sorts, and not a musical production, you don't have to "act" the song, but instead make it sound as great as you can.
Your voice is strong; start there!
-david