Belting

[Roxie]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 5:21pm

As a serious MT student in my grade 12 year with mainly head voice I am getting frustrated with not having the option to belt. I know that it's a really touchy subject with the voice becasue it can be extremely harmful if not done corectly. Does anyone have any tips/exercises for starting to develop a belt?

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 5:23pm

You probably aren't a natural belter. Most people aren't really belting when you think they are. Idina Menzel is NOT belting.

[Roxie]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 5:26pm

What?

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 5:27pm

You probably aren't a natural belter. Most people aren't really belting when you think they are. Idina Menzel is NOT belting.

[Elphie6689]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 5:29pm

When first starting to belt i was taught to sing a little through my nose just until i could get it down.. it helps. Also many people don't belt as bronxboundexpress says. They use a mix, which is a combination of belting and your head voice. Some people have great trouble getting taht down though

[Roxie]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 5:29pm

yeah I got that, I can read. I just thought that Idina was belting. At times I think it sounds like she's screaming actually.

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 5:30pm

Yeah, Idina Menzel does not know what she is doing. It's a simple yell she's doing. Sounds good though.

[Elphie6689]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 5:33pm

Updated On: 7/27/04 at 05:33 PM

[Roxie]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 5:46pm

I listened to it. That was great. You have a very strong voice! How old are you or were you when you did that?

[ponine24601]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 5:46pm

cool i'm gonna watch.

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 5:49pm

Watch your pitch on the end of the song. I also think your voice is a little young for that song. Those high notes will come later. The guards were cool. This song with just a piano part is boring. Nice job.

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 5:51pm

That song is amazingly hard to do without all the action on stage, but you pulled it off fine...good job!

[ponine24601]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 5:52pm

wow. holy crap! that was really good!! great belting ability!! on some parts i just think the arm movements were a little too much.

Updated On: 7/26/04 at 05:52 PM

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 5:53pm

Elphie, what does your voice teacher say about that performance?

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 5:56pm

Elphie, you live in CT? So do I! A lot of the info in the news kind of gave it away. What city are you from?

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 6:09pm

I watched it too! It gave me goosebumps girlfriend!

[PJ]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 7:30pm

I always get goosebumps when I hear live singing. I had them the entire time during "Gypsy" and "Wicked."

[Elphie6689]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 8:39pm

well i'm only 15... my voice teacher has been in the buisness but not that much...she liked the song alot...but i recently just got 2 other voice teachers who teach broadway stars...for all those that liked it thanks!

Updated On: 7/28/04 at 08:39 PM

[MusicPos2]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 8:45pm

Idina definitely knows what she's doing, and she is belting. Belting refers to the movement of the larynx to make a mix between head and chest sound like a full chest. No one should be singing a high F with a full chest. Belting is not harmful if done correctly, so you need to find a classical teacher that knows belting technique. If you're in NYC, I can recommend a few teachers for you. If not, check out the NATS website and call someone that is listed for musical theatre: www.nats.org. I usually tell my students to think of belting like they're whining. Just remember: if it hurts, it's wrong! How old are you? Many teachers think that you should be in HS before you learn belting: I don't completely agree with them, but you have to be extra careful if you're not.

[ponine24601]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 8:53pm

i'm i HS and I belt, but it has never hurt me before. i'm not sure if I am using the right technique or not. my voice teacher is classically trained, so she is training me to use my head voice mostly.

[Elphie6689]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 8:56pm

well im only 15... but i'm trying to learn how to mix more but it doesnt hurt when i belt...its very comfortable for me but since i've been training more this summer i've learned more technique, but i'm thinking about getting a classical teacher also

[MusicPos2]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 8:57pm

You really don't want two teachers, you need a teacher that knows both. Ponine, as long as your teacher knows pedagogy, that's fine: I introduce belting in ES b/c that's what kids want, I'm just really really careful to make sure that it isn't screaming.

[ponine24601]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 8:58pm

your voice is awesome! just thought i'd tell you that.

[Elphie6689]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 9:03pm

who's voice? im confused... lol

[MusicPos2]

Posted: 7/26/04 at 9:04pm

I think she's referring to the link above.