Hi,

At the moment I am studying grade 8 repertoire and even some repertoire beyond that. I have always found it quite difficult to sing hig notes quietly. I have put in lorts of diaphragmatic support but still cannot pitch them and sometimes I find it really hard to open my throat as I feel it will sound breathy. It also feels like I have a bubble at the back of my throat stopping me from placing that note when I need it ... I cannot sing it quiet enough to make a big dynamic contrast!

Anyone have any tips please...I am desperate!!!

Annetta xx

Some people just have larger voices than others and cannot sing below a certain level. It sounds as if you are doing the right things and your teacher will have shown you the correct techniques to use I am sure. The important thing is to get plenty of contrast into your singing so perhaps your forte work will be meatier than others'. Make sure that you choose repertoire that will suit your voice if you do have a full voice. One thing that you might try though is the singing of long, sustained notes beginning mezzo forte and then adding a diminuendo. When you have reached your quietest point hold that for a couple of seconds, and then sing some shorter, repeated notes at the same sound level.

Thanks for that...that is really helpful

I somehow managed to sing one today finally but I can't say that I can keep doing it sort of like a 'fluke'

I shall take what you said into account and put it into practice

Thank you petrat

Hi there. It sounds to me like you haven't got the right position for your voice if you have difficulty singing high notes quietly. It needs to be in the "float" position, like a high up hum. Try humming the note you want (even if it's only the volume of a gnat's squeak) and position it there, and allow it to float upwards whilst supporting it well. Some say that you should never sing a note loudly that you can't sing quietly. This is because you can't sing a high note quietly without correct technique (so then you can develop it into a louder one), whereas you can sing one loudly by pushing too much air through the vocal chords and risking damage. Make sure your shoulders and jaw are relaxed. If, as you say, you are giving adequate support (and I'm sure you are), the only other reason is position. Remember you MUST allow the jaw to drop down for high notes at the same time as tucking in. You don't stand a chance if your jaw is not dropped. The jaw and the diaphragm work together. Even people with large voices ahould be able to sing quietly throughout the range.

Hi. Thanks AnnC. What do you mean by float upwards? sorry! By letting the jaw drop your throat then automatically opens right?

Imagine the sound coming out of an imaginary hole in the top of your head and floating up like a hot air balloon. Yes, the throat should be open, like the beginning of a yawn, but it has to be like that whether the jaw is dropped or not. The higher the note, the lower your jaw. Keep it relaxed - pretend to be gormless!

My friend taught me that high notes should be 'projected' out from your nose area - as if there's a wall in front of your nose that you want the sound to penetrate. Is that wrong?

It's a good general idea, but it depends on how high the note is. The higher it is, the sound is focussed further up, and even going backwards in the top of the head (above top C). It's so difficult to describe these things in words. Much easier to demonstrate. It also depends on your vocal range. For some people high notes are what others would not find high, if you see what I mean. A high G for example would feel high to a mezzo, whereas for me it is not.

Oh I see. That means for me, my high notes are correctly sung. It's my lower notes I can't do very well on them. *grin* They sorta come out from the back of my throat.

And my low notes come out of a hole in my chest..... but they are not all that low!

The key to singing high notes quietly is excellent breath control and support. Without that however well you place the notes, you will lack the necessary scaffolding to control the note.

Build up that control through exercise. I'm a firm advocate of Swimming, but running or cycling will achieve the same results. If you choose swimming work up to swimming a mile, running work up to beingable to stustain a steady jog around a 5Km course, Cycling 20Km on the flat or 10Km up hills.

I gained so much control through swimming that I even recommend exercise to pupils as a way of developing better breath control. (Not that I say go swim a mile, its more a case of saying do you like swimming... O good, try and do some length swimming and concentrate on your breathing.)

Absolutely right Jod. My advice about placement assumed that the support and breath control are there, as per the original post.

Thanks for the advice...I must say that the amount of exercise I do now is very minimal compared to what I used to do...I'm trying to get back into the habit of swimming again as that is one of the best sports for singing because of the support that you need to keep afloat as well

Thanks

Annetta