Show Stopping Baritone Songs...- Page 3

[MarkCohen]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 6:09pm

Yeah, I want voice lessons, but I'm not sure If I can particularly afford them right now, I feel bad asking for my parents to pay the 500 dollars a year my theatre program costs, and I don't have a job. I'm really hoping to get a voice teacher sometimes though.

And like when I'm trying to belt high notes, what in particular should I avoid to avoid these nodes?

[jczelyph]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 6:58pm

Hmmm...

Well, 'get a trained voice teacher' is the best answer. But in lieu of that, I just asked my voice teacher on MSN what he thinks. God, this is so hard to explain...

Firstly, you need to ensure that your muscles and false vocal folds (a set of folds that lie above the real folds to kinda protect them)in your larynx are fully retracted. To do that, try doing big, deep belly laughs like Santa Claus. While you're laughing, feel the sensation of openness in your voicebox. That feeling of space and openness is being retracted. By practicing that laughing exercise you can eventually learn what retraction is and be able to retract instantly and constantly without needing to laugh or think about it. By retracting you're creating a good space for resonance and you're also preventing any excess friction on the vocal folds, thus preventing fibrosis of the folds which is essentially nodules.

Secondly, when you belt you should ensure you're body is properly anchored... Anchoring is a great technique because it helps you sing safely, as well as singing 'better'. I always anchor when I'm gonna go for a big note or a note at the top of my range because it actually helps you maintain a note for longer and helps you reach higher. It's also important in protecting your voice from misuse.

Basically, if the muscles in your larynx are tense or tight, you're less like to produce a nice sound and you're more likely to damage your vocal folds by placing them under undue stress. If you haven't stretched or warmed-up before a performance, or you'rw a bit uptight, your larnyx will be tight. Anchoring works by deflecting tension away from this area. In essence, anchoring involves consciously tensing muscle groups in your body to divert the autonomic tension from your larynx. It's good to control your stomach muscles (like you're trying to show-off your six-pack) anyway as this will support your diapharagm and help maintain control over your breath. You can also clench your butt cheeks and my favourite technique is to imagine i'm trying to hold two oranges in my armpits and keep them there with my arms at my side by using my chest muscle. Kinda like you're striking a bodybuilder pose and you're demostrating your pecs. SO when you sing, clench your muscles and that'll help ease off pressure on your voicebox so the note will be easier and you'll sound better.

Third tip, if anything ever starts to hurt, STOP! If it hurts, you're doing something wrong. Rest your voice.

When my teacher told me those two tips, it really transformed my singing (I sound like a born-again Christian). When you start to use those techniques you'll be able to make better sounds and actually you'll realise your range is way bigger than you thought. When my voice broke I had a few years of cruddy teachers and my voice was poo. Then with a bit of good teaching, I realised I had about 3 extra tones on top of what I thought I had. So get practicing and use your new found skills!

Mind you, none of this is substitute for a real, trained voice teacher so work on your parents or get a job.

[jo]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 9:08pm

Yes, LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING can be a tough challenge even for a tenor, let alone a baritone, because of the last note.

But Michael Ball, who made the song famous, has said his voice is classified as HIGH BARITONE ( although he calls the last note a "money note' )

[MarkCohen]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 10:43pm

Thanks soooooo much! I'm going to try all of that. What do you know mabye I'm a tenor after all

And also, to avoid starting a new thread, I am really desperate for an mp3 of Being Alive, and Marry Me A Little, if you even just have Being Alive that Would be great. Just PM me and we can get set up through msn,

[PJ]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 10:54pm

Here ya ho, MarkCohen.

http://www.xsao.net/Broadway/Company/

[MarkCohen]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 11:20pm

It didnt work :S

[PJ]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 11:28pm

http://xsao.net/Broadway/Broadway.html

Here. Try the main Broadway site and just click on "Company."

[Dare2DefyGravity]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 11:38pm

I always thought "Anthem" from Chess was amazing, but you know it may go up to tenor, but still an amazing song.

[MarkCohen]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 11:56pm

It says "Cannot Find Server" Thanks though.

[phantom_tenor]

Posted: 1/14/05 at 6:36pm

Michael Ball? A baritone? *chuckle*
No way. He's a tenor through and through.
I don't know why anyone would want to pretend not to be a tenor though.

Oh, and for a great show-stopper, try "Nothing Can Stop Me Now" from "The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd". It's a little obscure, but if you can find it, it's great. Anthony Warlow did a recording on his album "On The Boards".

Also, Bui Doi from Miss Saigon is a great song. It goes pretty high though. A or B flat, i think.
Also, This Is the Moment from Jekyll and Hyde, which goes to G.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 3:20pm

No, Mandy Patinkin is definitely a tenor! No question. And "Finishing the Hat," which goes up to like, an A flat, is definitely a tenor song, although a baritone with a wide range could do it (I, alas, cannot). Don't you hate those people who can sing anything?

[IveGottaBeME]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 4:27pm

has anyone heard "I've Gotta Be Me" - i think it's from Golden Rainbow.. never saw or heard of the show but that's what it says on the music. sammy davis has a rendition of it.. anyway, i use it at auditions a lot and i love it.... also love being alive...

[iluvny04]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 11:08am

Something Was Missing-Annie
Solioquy-Carousel
So In Love-Kiss Me Kate(can be a baritone song)
Any Dream Will Do-Joseph
I Believe You- H2$

[CastAlbumFan]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 1:29pm

Ahhh, yes! "I've Gotta Be Me" is cerainly a baritone showstopper!

The only place you can get the CDs of GOLDEN RAINBOW and WHAT MAKES SAMMY RUN? is at Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme's website:

http://www.steveandeydie.com

Updated On: 1/16/05 at 01:29 PM

[immortalbroadwayLA]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 1:45pm

Mark Cohen:

Throughout HighSchool I said things like I don't want to sing songs with anything over "E". Then in my late 20's I found the right voice teacher and I can comfortably say that I am a baritone with a high G, even A belted.

Moral of the story: find the right voice teacher.

[immortalbroadwayLA]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 1:55pm

Look Over There: La Cage Aux Folles

[immortalbroadwayLA]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 1:57pm

And:

The Colors of My Life: Barnum

[immortalbroadwayLA]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 2:08pm

This is the Moment: Jekyll and Hyde

[MarkCohen]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 2:14pm

"Throughout HighSchool I said things like I don't want to sing songs with anything over "E". Then in my late 20's I found the right voice teacher and I can comfortably say that I am a baritone with a high G, even A belted."

Thankyou honestly alot. Things like that are so encouraging to me. I just hope I don't ruin my voice.

[immortalbroadwayLA]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 3:15pm

if you have the right teacher, and are working on technique u absolutely will not ruin your voice. just don't do it alone.

[immortalbroadwayLA]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 3:17pm

btw: where are you? depending maybe someone can make a referral, would love to refer you to the teacher I'm talking about. he truly is a miracle worker

[MarkCohen]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 3:59pm

Southern Ontario, so I highly doubt it.

[sanda]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 4:00pm

Anthem-Chess

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 1:35am

Another nod for Make Them Hear You!!!
The Mason from Working... I think it could be Baritone?
You're Different and Let It Sing from Violet.
New Words... a gorgeous song that Brent Barett sings on the Maury Yeston Songbook CD. ooohhhh
If Ever I Would Leave You- Camelot
If I Loved You- Carousel
Marry Me a Little (LOVE it)- cut from Company... on Marry Me a Little CD and numerous other Sondheim compilations
I Don't Remember You- The Happy Time
Leaning on a Lamp Post- Me and My Girl
You Should Be Loved- Side Show
Smile- Smile

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 2:32am

Let Me Drown - The Wild Party (Lippa)