It seems to me that super high belting as really anything over a F for female and C for male these days. And what shows actually require this of cast members?
Apart from stuff like Side Show, Brooklyn, Bat Boy and Dreamgirls I cant think of much. Wicked only has that one or two big notes in Defying Gravity. It seems standard in most shows that females belt to an E and male to B/C. Hopefully the earlier shows remain exceptions and not the norm. As i dont want to see show after show that descend into a belt-off!
I mean the whole point of using belt is to display heightened emotion. Now if you over use that then it cheapens the effect. Much better to write material that is safe and accesible to sing and save the super high notes to one or two when the story calls for them.
Attitudes have shifted over the years and belt obsession is in danger of losing sight what the purpose is. Dont get me wrong I love a money note like the next person
But dont cheapen it!
