Hi,

I practise singing for an hour or two before going to my singing class and then I sing for an hour during the class. So, totally it's 3 hours of singing. And I feel the exhaustion through-out the day.

Particularly, after singing the high-pitched notes, I feel my nerves at the back of my head paining almost till the end of that day. I would only feel comfortable singing the next day!

Is my range my low? When I asked my teacher, what my pitch is - she says, "I dont know!" How long does it take to her to determine my range?

My previous techer told me, I can reach the 'A' in higher octave though I had to struggle a lot for it! Though I could produce the note somehow, it doesn't sound pleasing!

Should I stop stretching too hard to avoid damaging my nerves?

Please advise.

Sandesh

This is a big topic, and when I have a bit more time I'll write you a detailed reply.

But for now, one quick piece of advice:

Three hours is FAR too long to sing in one go. It's no wonder you're exhausted.

Generally if I'm practising I will sing for half to three-quarters of an hour. I may have two or three practice sessions in a day, but I always stop if I feel tired or uncomfortable. As a beginner I didn't sing that long in a session, either. I've built up to that length of time.

And although my lessons are an hour long, a lot of that time is discussion and planning rather than actually singing. And I still feel quite "sung out" by the end of it.

So, my message to start with is that twenty minutes' practice every day is far better for your voice than a two hour marathon practice session just before your lesson.

As for high notes, range and discomfort, have a read back through the posts on this forum for the last year or so. We've discussed all of them at one time or another.

Back later.

Cheers

Katyjay

ps I forgot to mention....always use the first five minutes of your practice to warm-up before you get into singing the big stuff. I'll talk about warm-up later.

Hi katyjay!

Thanks a lot for your prompt response!



I never realized it! I thought 3 hours is normal. Thanks for the pointer. It really helps me! Even before, when I was practising Indian classical singing, I used to sing lengthy hours and get exhausted. I shall now start taking breaks as you suggested.



I will go and search them...



Yeah, even whenever I am with my friends after having a lunch or a chat, they suddenly ask me to sing. I used to do some mistakes when I start singing abruptly like that. So, now-a-days, whenever they ask me to sing in casual parties, I just go into a room and warm up myself for 5 minutes and come back to sing

I hope the warm-up period will reduce as time goes by....

Sandesh, the warm-up will not ever reduce. 5 minutes is an absolute minimum. It's a necessary part of using your voice properly. And if you don't do it, you won't sing at your best.

Three hours? Blimey! You could do Wagner!

Make sure you warm up loads. I normally spend 5-10 mins. When singing high notes try to imaging that you're singing through a little hole in the top of your head. Also, when it comes to a hight note, punch the air ubove your head. I know it feels stupid but it stops you thinking too hard and helps you make a nice sound.

Thanks for the tip, shimmer.

I just hope practise helps. []

I wonder about something.

After you sing for long and become an expert, would you come to a stage where the notes and rhythm fall right by themselves even without your conscious knowledge and you just sing enjoying the feeling, not caring about getting the right note on the right beat?

I hope some day in my life would be such a day []

Hi Sandesh

To some degree that happens - and long before you become an expert. My first victim pupil was achieving this by the end of our first hour together.

What does happen is that you stop being conscious of making yourself sing this note or this rhythm, and you devote your concentration to what the song means and what it's meant to sound like. And as you think "This is what happens next" your voice does it.

My teacher says to me "don't think, don't breathe, just sing" - and that's what works. It's all part of the relaxation I mentioned on the "Help" thread yesterday evening - so have a quick read of that.

Cheers

Katyjay

Thanks katyjay!

I learnt two things from your post today.

1) That I would soon sing without too much of conscious effort
2) How to strike off a letter word

Sandesh,

What I'd like best of all for you to learn today is to relax and enjoy your singing - and to find a teacher who will help you do this.

Best wishes

Katyjay

Was I?

Well, if you weren't, you were faking it brilliantly - particularly in the Faure at the end.

Acts in Wagner music dramas tend not to be more than two hours long, and the singers usually get some kind of break during that time, even if it's whilst another character delivers a (lengthy) monologue.

*applause for Andante*

katyjay, sounds like you're a natural at this teaching lark if I lived closer you'd have a second victim student!