Vocalist.org archive


To: "VOCALIST" <vocalist>
Subject: RE: Speaking/Singing Voice (ranting about countertenors :)
Date sent: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 08:12:53 -0800
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

"That, however, has made me concerned about my singing a lot whether I was
wrong or not, as I was being told many times that falsetto is not good and I
shouldn't use it so often. So, I would like to know what everyone here,
esp. European, think about it."

Well, being of European descent, I think I can take a shot at this one...

I sang Alto for a few years stricly on a falsetto basis. I found it had
little to no effect on my Baritone voice, (but great for sight reading
skills, having to learn Alto parts to familiar hymns). My voice teacher was
great about it, teaching me in both Alto and Baritone. Later on, I decided
to concentrate on Baritone. The only lasting effect was that a certain
technique my teacher used to help with high notes (> G natural) was
worthless, because my falsetto was so strong that my voice naturally used
that device, rather than my teachers trick. Easily remedied: we approached
this device (which escapes me now, it was six years ago) from below, where I
had no falsetto.

Having come back into singing in the last two months after a six year
hiatus, I can tell you that my falsetto strength went away rather quickly,
and now that I am singing again (yippee!) is making it's way back slowly.
I'm not sure if I'd feel comfortable taking anyone's money for it right now,
though ;-)

-Christopher Dwyer
San Diego, CA