[benjivaudeville]

I'm just wondering if anyone knows anything about increasing one's range. I'd appreciate any tips etc.

-Benn.

[MaryMag]

Do you have a voice teacher?

[broadway_baby416]

RELAX YOUR THROAT! You know that disgusting sound people make when they try to squeeze out high notes? Please don't do that! For your own good! A) It sounds disgusting, and B) It is such a bad vocal habit! It will cause so much damage to your throat, you have no idea!

What I told my friend is to try to make as big a space as possible in the back of your throat. You might feel a kind of bump when you first try to sing high notes/low notes, but this will go away with practice. I'm not a voice teacher, but this is generally the advice I give about this.

[Lazarus (Adam G)]

It depends.

What's your current vocal range?

[MsDivaKate]

The safest way to expand your range is through voice lessons. You'll learn the proper placement of the sound, how to open your throat and raise your soft pallet which helps to relax your vocal chords and make it easier to sing, which can help you on higher notes.

The best way to expand your range is to work yourself a little every day with warmups. Depending on where you want to expand, warm yourself up to 1 note higher then you feel comfortable singing, work on this until you feel that you can hit that note with ease, then raise or lower things by a half or whole step depending on comfort level. Always stop if your throat begins to hurt or if you feel like you are straining. With high notes it also helps to check to make sure you are taking low, deep breaths and supporting them.

I'd definitely look into voice lessons though. Make sure you find a proper teacher though, as a bad teacher can do more damage to your vocal chords then you yourself.

[Jesus]

True range extension really revolves around discovering your true headvoice (NOT FALSETTO) and learning to mix it with your chest, this creates a consistency in tone all the way through the range. There are hundreds of ways to accomplish this, most of which require you have a teacher. Do your research about the voice, and find a reputable teacher. If he or she says something that doesn't jive with how you understand things, ask questions, really drill them. If they give you detailed answers with proof, aka, scientific backing, then good, if they just say they know best, it's probably in your best interest to look elsewhere. Finding your voice teacher is the first step and a vital one in improving your voice. They need to know what they are doing, they need to know something about what you want to use your voice for (classical, contemporary, etc). But just as importantly their personality needs to jive with yours.

The only way to extend your range is to get some sort of technique. And you get technique from a good teacher.

[MaryMag]

[MsDivaKate]

[benjivaudeville]

Thank you for all your replies. I'm currently looking for lessons in my area and have found two teachers. One could give lessons for free and I'm unsure of the other's fees.

Thanks again.

[benjivaudeville]

That's my initial thought but it's at my college, by certified teacher. I'll have to see.

[katethegreat]

Are you looking for a teacher round the london area? PM me - I have openings!
But seriously, when you start your lessons, ask your tutor about vocal sirens - they're a good exercise for not only finding you range, but expanding it. Fun too

[benjivaudeville]

I'm not far from London but it may be a little too far to travel, where abouts are you?

And I adore sirening. Tis rather fun

[katethegreat]

Fun indeed - bit antisocial, but thats how I like it!

Depends where in Essex you are and what days - drop me an email (katetuer @hotmail.com) and let me know whereabouts, what sort of level you're at and what you want from lessons - I might be able to recommend someone closer if I can't!

K x