A step-by-step guide to singing Welcome to the Over the Rainbow guide to singing. You’ve seen the show, now it’s time to have a go yourself. Whether you’re an absolute beginner, or haven’t sung in a while, it’s never too late to get into singing. Singing can give you courage, get your heart pumping and might even boost your brain power! Read on for warm-up exercises, singing tips and who to contact if you want to take the next step. Remember, you can sing anywhere – on the sofa, in the shower, or with your friends on the road! Since the BBC and I collaborated on our first theatre casting show “How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?”, I have been astonished by the number of people wanting to take part in musical theatre – this booklet is for you. Have fun and keep singing! Andrew Lloyd Webber The A to OZ guide to singing... 1 Getting started Warming up Posture Breathing Your body Your voice Good posture will help you Breathing well will support Singers are like athletes: Warm up your voice to avoid make a good sound: your voice. Developing good they need to warm up before straining and damaging your breathing takes practice they perform. vocal cords. – Stand up straight – imagine and patience: a string pulling you up from – Shake out your body to – Breathe out through your the top of your head. – Breathe deeply from your loosen up. mouth releasing all the air lower lungs – imagine a from your lungs. – Place your feet shoulder- – Slowly stretch your arms up rubber ring around your width apart. to the ceiling and then reach – Once your lungs feel waist. Breathe in and try to down to the floor. completely empty, relax – Look straight ahead. push the ring outwards. your stomach muscles, – Roll your shoulders – Keep your shoulders down. – Breathe in through your nose open your mouth and let backwards and then and out through your nose the air flood back in. Do this – Try to relax – tension will forwards. prevent you from making and mouth. several times. – Very gently roll your head a good sound. – Avoid raising your shoulders – Now breathe in again and from side to side – don’t as you breathe in – keep when you release the air add push too hard or you may them relaxed and level. an “sss” sound. See how long strain your neck. you can hold it. – Try this again using “shh” and “fff” sounds. This will A simple exercise to try: warm up your mouth and Lie on the floor on your back with your hands on vocal cords, and help to your stomach. Breathe in (inhale) and your hands build different vocal muscles. will rise. Now breathe out (exhale) and they will lower. In this position it is virtually impossible to breathe incorrectly. Try to breathe in the same way when you sing. 2 3 Find your voice Practice makes perfect Now you’ve warmed up, it’s Volume Practise your breathing and vocal exercises regularly. time to find out what your – Choose a comfortable note Even a little will help – ten minutes of regular practice voice can do. and sing “Ahhhh”. can make a big difference. A gentle warm-up each day will increase your lung strength and capacity. Range (the highest and lowest – Start as quietly as you can notes you can sing) and slowly build in volume – Put on one of your favourite – Try a tricky song or a difficult (remember to breathe!). CDs and sing along to a song note – it may be tough, but – Sing the note that comes that you know well. Choose this is a great way to develop most naturally to you. – You can also use sounds songs that have a familiar, your technique and range. from your favourite songs. – Gradually take the pitch up simple melody and a limited Try using the “ha” from: – Be brave. How about singing to the highest note you can range. in front of a friend for sing without straining. “Ha ha ha, ho ho ho, and – Take passages of songs feedback? a couple of tra la las.” – Now take it all the way down apart and really think about – For inspiration, check out to the very lowest note, the words and sounds you Articulation different genres, musicians again without straining. are singing. and composers at your – Sing the line below 20 times – You can also try the above – Listen to yourself. Are you local library, or at: in a row. Focus on making with a line from a song, making a good sound? bbc.co.uk/music sure each letter and sound raising or lowering the pitch Are you in tune? Train your is clear every time. – And tune in to Elaine Paige each time you repeat it. ears as well as your vocal on Sunday on BBC Radio 2 Have a go with: “Ding dong! The witch is muscles. every Sunday from 1pm to dead. Which old witch? “Where troubles melt like – Try improvising – use a line sing along to songs from The wicked witch!” lemon drops.” from a familiar song as a the musicals. starting point and play with – For more singing tips, visit: the notes and rhythm. bbc.co.uk/sing Try this: Start with a note that’s comfortable for you and slowly go up and down like a police siren throughout your vocal range, with an “ng” sound. Breathe as slowly as possible, and snatch a breath when you run out, trying to ensure an even, continuous sound. Try different variations: with your lips buzzing together, with your tongue trilling, or “ooh”ing. 4 5 What next? Sing together If you’re thinking of taking your singing to the next level, Performing with others is a great way to build your you may want to try singing lessons. There are also lots confidence and improve your technique. of online resources available to help you improve. Look out for posters advertising local musical theatre BBC Blast Incorporated Society groups and choirs in libraries, community centres, bbc.co.uk/blast/music_audio of Musicians music shops, or in your local paper. Top tips for budding young www.ism.org Useful contacts The National Operatic musicians. Search for tutors vetted and Dramatic Association by the Incorporated Society British Choirs on the Net BBC Learning www.noda.org.uk of Musicians. www.choirs.org.uk bbc.co.uk/learning Use the online map to find Search over 2,000 choirs Find courses in your area. LEA Music Services groups in your area. around the UK. www.federationmusic.org.uk BBC Radio 2 The National Youth Find your local music service. Making Music bbc.co.uk/radio2 Music Theatre www.makingmusic.org.uk Listen to Radio 2 sessions and Sing Up www.nymt.org.uk Find a music group in find upcoming events. www.singup.org Find out about musical theatre your area. Ideas and resources to get workshops for young people. BBC Radio 3 children singing. Scottish Music Centre bbc.co.uk/radio3 www.scottishmusic Discover music, drama and The Music Industries centre.com/directory events on Radio 3. Association Find music organisations, www.mia.org.uk BBC Sing venues and choirs Tips on how to choose a bbc.co.uk/sing based in Scotland. music teacher and other Free online downloads, useful contacts. singing tutorials and links to other singing websites. “ You don’t have to have lessons to enjoy singing – grab some friends for a sing-along to build To make sure a tutor is right for you or your child, you should your confidence.” start with a telephone call to find out more about them. Do they Jodie Prenger specialise in a particular style of singing? Are they experienced at teaching singers of your level? Can they supply references? 6 7 “ You need to work hard on your technique beforehand, so that when it comes to the performance, you don’t need to think about it. Everything should just come naturally, The BBC Performing Groups Funding musical talent leaving you free to concentrate The BBC Singers and the five The BBC Performing Arts on delivering the lyric.” BBC orchestras perform around Fund is a charity dedicated Charlotte Church the UK throughout the year. to supporting aspiring new They also provide the musical musical talent. backbone to BBC events such Previously called the Fame as the BBC Proms. Academy Bursary, the fund You can listen to their concerts was set up in 2003 to support “ Keep an eye on your posture. regularly on BBC Radio 3 potential talent through It doesn’t matter if you are and BBC Radio 2. They run fun, different music schemes. The free music activities for people charity is funded by voting singing to yourself in the mirror of all ages and musical abilities. revenue from BBC shows at home or to an audience of including Over The Rainbow. thousands, a good straight Visit their websites for more information about the groups Over £3 million has so far been back and relaxed shoulders and to find workshops, events awarded for Musical Theatre, will make all the difference and performances in your area: Urban Music, Education to your sound.” Bursaries and Instrument and bbc.co.uk/orchestras John Partridge Equipment Awards. bbc.co.uk/singers To find out more about the “ When you sing, go to the awards and how you can apply centre of what you are doing, for a bursary, visit: think about the meaning of bbc.co.uk/performingartsfund the words rather than just presenting a performance, then it works.” Sheila Hancock 8 9 “Why then, oh why can’t I?” It’s never too late to get into singing.