Songs to Work on With My Voice Teacher

My Own Space is a nice song to work on. Kander and Ebb.

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A lot depends on if you're a lyric or dramatic soprano, and it you're closer to coloratura or mezzo.

You can never go wrong with "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" from Showboat, especially if it's in a bluesy setting. There's also "My White Knight", "Till There Was You", and "Being in Love" from The Music Man, "Someone Like You" and "In His Eyes" from Jekyll and Hyde, "Out of My Dreams" from Oklahoma, "So In Love" from Kiss Me Kate, and "Daddy's Son" from Ragtime. I personally love "Anthem" from Chess, transposed into a female range.

If you're lyric, look to Kristen Chenoweth, Sherie Rene Scott and Rebecca Luker. If you're dramatic, look to Linda Eder, Marin Mazzie, and Idina Menzel. Anything by Audra McDonald.

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Updated On: 8/14/05 at 07:55 PM

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm looking for something for a lyrical Soprano since I have a light tone, closer to Rebecca Luker than Linda Eder.

With a Song in My Heart? I don't know if that's high enough...

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Check out Rodgers and Hammerstein - Oklahoma has been mentioned, why not look at Carousel and Cinderella? You could do a verse of "If I Loved You". "In My Own Little Corner" from Cinderella would be cute with your voice (I've heard you on DTS).

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Thanks! And isn't Sherie Rene Scott mroe of a belter?

If I Loved You, What's the Use or Wonderin', Mr. Snow, when the Children are Asleep (and that's all from R&H's Carousel)

On the Steps of the Palace from Into the Woods is good, but that might be too contemporary.

Look at Tonight, I Feel Pretty, I Have a Love, Somewhere (all from West Side)

and when you feel real up to it, go for Glitter and Be Gay from Candide...in my opinion the best musical theatre song for a lyric soprano out there (albeit a tad operatic).

Some nice mezzo soprano/soprano art songs are:

"Where e're you walk" by Handel
"I attempt from love's sickness to fly" by Purcell

Just to give you a break from the Italian you are probably doing.

Someone suggested "Glitter and Be Gay", please don't try that one yet. You should not even begin to work on it until you are in your 20's, or you could severly hurt yourself.

Look into songs by Gilbert and Sullivan. "Poor Wand'ring One" from Pirates of Penzance might be a good one.

She's 14. (Hope you don't mind me saying, MFL)

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Go get yourself a copy of "26 Italian Songs and Arias" (formerly known as 24 Italian Songs Arias to some of us who are older...LOl). These are Italian art songs that are great to work technique and vowels. I especially reccommend "Caro Mio Ben", "Gia il Sole Dal Gange" and "Nel Cor Piu Non Mi Sento".

If you're looking for more Broadway repertoire, I'd suggest one of Hal Leonard's Broadway Song Anthology for Teens. They have a couple of different collections, some even come with accompaniment CDs. They have a nice assortment of songs.

I use both of these with my voice students. I make them a deal....for every Broadway piece we do one classical!

A song that really bridged the gap for me was "When I Bring You Colored Toys". It's built on a classical base, but definitely has a broadway feel. It has a few nice and high places, but it helped me be able to go from chest to head smoothly. In that Italian arias book, I loved "O Del Mio Dolce Ardor".

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"As when the dove laments her love" by Handel
"Nel cor di piu mi sento" and "Se tu m'ami" from the Italian arias book
"Out of my dreams" from Oklahoma
"I feel pretty" from WSS
"If I were a bell" from Guys and Dolls
"Mister Snow" from Carousel
"Voi che sapete" from La Nozze di Figaro
"The trees on the mountains" from Sussanah
"My Favorite Things" from Sound of Music
"Daisies" by Barber
"Wiegenlied" by Brahms (you already know the melody)
Hope I helped!