But when I've been singing lately, my voice doesn't sound clear.
My throat feels scratchy when I sing and it is hard for me to sing high, which is a problem because I am a soprano.
Any advice?How do I get my voice to sound more clear?
Are you drinking enough water? It is imparative that vocalists drink a lot of water.
Spazzaticalnick is right. You need to make sure all your problems aren't a result of strain. Make sure your breathing is right too.
I'm a soprano as well and here are the tricks and things I check if I have any difficulty with the high notes.
1) Posture
(Standing) Start by looking staight ahead and keeping your head level with the floor--not tense just positioned there.
Next, your shoulders should be rolled back. Rolling your shoulders back will help enlongate the thorax or chest cavity by lifting the sternum, the bone in the center of your chest. This allows room for proper breathing.
Keep your knees relaxed--not locked as you stand.
Keep your feet shoulder width apart. One can be a little more forward than the other if you are move comfortable that way.
Everything should be natural, not stiff or tense. You are a regal princess. Don't tip you head weird. Your crown will fall off.
(Sitting)
Keep everything the same and sit as far forward as you can comfortably on the seat.
2) Proper breathing:
How people breath for living:
***involuntary
a) the diaphragm contracts and flattens to enlarge the thorax or chest cavity
b) the costal muscles or rib muscles expand causing the air pressure to drop in the lungs. the air pressure inside the lungs then equals to the outside air pressure
c)exhale
Difference in breathing for singing:
a) More air is required
b) Quicker inhalation
c) Longer periods of exhalation requiring control
d) Voluntary
Wrong ways to breath when singing:
a) Clavicular breathing ~ shallow breathing--the shoulders lift
b) Costal breathing ~ heaving like when you are sick
c) Abdominal breathing ~ just from the stomach and excluding the use of the top of the lungs
**these three types of breathing cause tension in other locations. Tension is a singers worst enemy.
The breathing we use to sing is called diaphragmatic-intercostal breathing.
**Make sure your shoulders do not lift when you breath!!
Remember: you cannot controll your diaphragm. The use of this muscle is involuntary. When someone says sing from your diaphragm they are speaking locationally.
3) Proper resonating and projecting--not straining.
(A clear sound), as you call it, is a result of good resonation.
A soprano spends most of her time singing in head voice. That's the sound for which they are known. When you are trying to sing your higher notes this is the vocal register you are using.
The key to the soprano tone is resonation in the mouth, face, and even the sinuses. To keep things resonating in the proper locations it is important for soprani to sing with a raised soft pallet.
Locating the soft pallet:
With your tongue feel the top of your mouth behind your teeth. Its hard there--that is the hard pallet. Move your tongue farther back to where it is soft and fleshy. This is the soft pallet.
Raising the soft pallet:
When you yawn the soft pallet naturally raises. For many vocalists it helps to raise the eyebrows. When singing imagine that you have one of those really great paper party drink embrellas. Imagine putting against the roof of your mouth and opening it. That's what a raised soft pallet is like.
4) Proper mouth opening/space
If a singer doesn't open their mouth enough it cuts the power out and hinders projection. When singing the mouth should always be opened wide enough to fit two fingures vertically between the top and bottom rows of teeth.
5) Mind over matter
Sometimes it is all a matter of how we think of the high notes. We never reach for our high notes. We know they are there and that all we have to do is gracefully reach down from above and tap them.
Your head should never move when you are singing your high notes. Make sure it is always parrallel to the to the floor.
If everthing is properly used and your vocal chords are properly hydrated you should never have vocal strain or raspiness.
Sorry this is kind of long and I realize that you probably know some of this from your vocal instructor. I just didn't want to leave anything out.
Good luck and happy singing!How do I get my voice to sound more clear?
No problem.
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i have been singing for a long time scien is was 3 years old with vocal teachers I'm a contralto and i have to be able to sing high and low notes and i have allergies and sinus so when springs comes my voice becomes scratchy so i use this spray that my vocal to told me to use, now every time spring comes i have a clear voice because i use that spray.
PS: your vocal cords may be destroyed and you should see a doctor for treatment because this spray cannot restore vocal cords to normal also use hot apple cider vinegar may taste a little nasty at first but its totally worth it
This is great that you are asking for help. You have to realize that nothing is going to make everything perfect again immeadiatly, but it will help.
Your first problem - raspiness:
Raspiness comes from various sources, sometimes, your throat just isn't doing well. Sometimes all it needs is to be cleared. Sometimes it is a product of trying to imitate certain singers. This is the hardest type of raspiness to fix. It seems to me like your raspiness comes from to much pressure in your vocal chord areas. You can try this to see if this is the problem : Put your thumb under your chin, and stretch it out to where your throat begins. Now trying singing a few notes. If it feels like a muscle is pushing down on your thumb, then that is just unnesscessary pressure you have made a habit to apply. Try singing with your tongue at the tip of your bottom teeth. Don't stick your throat or chin up to the sky, look straight ahead, and relax your tongue and throat.
When you say you can't hit high notes :
Now it sounds like your are straining your voice too much. Maybe you just need a little rest. If this is the case, you probably are singing in your throat, which is not good. You need breath support. Try to breathe deep into your body as you can. Breathe into your ';belly';. Pretend you are Santa Clause, and fill up your tummy with air, and imagine the air flowing up your body, and allow your mind to control the vocal chords. When the air passes through them, the air flows like water.
These vizualizations should help.
If you feel your throat is just scratchy try:
Get some Apple Cider Vinegar,
put a small amount into a cup, and water it down with an equal amount of water. Drink this, immeadiatly after you swallow, drink water.
This always helps my throat when I feel it is scratchy, tired or even sore.
Yes, don't sing from your throat, sing from your diaphram. That is the number one problem of singers. For a temporary relief, try honey and warm tea.
I have a problem with hitting high notes too. A year ago i was a first soprano but now my choir director recommends my range as an alto but that is simply b/c my voice is changing. Try drinking lots of room temperate water before singing. Try singing in your higher range a little each day but don't strain your voice. Support your voice by breathing deeply from your diaphragm. If a note is too high for you don't strain or raise you head to try and reach it. Work a little each day to get to it.
Sing with more confidence %26amp; from your lower chacras
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