Saturday, October 25, 2008

What You Should Know About Vibrato

By Elizabeth Schohl

If you want to improve your singing style, whether you are a professional or an amateur, you'll find that one thing that you need to think about is your vibrato. Most people understand it to be an impressive natural occurrence when your voice wavers slightly or a lot as you sing. Most singers would love to have a fine sounding vibrato as audiences love to hear it in a good singer, and some have to work on it when they practice.

What exactly is vibrato? Most singers call it a wavering in the sound of your voice as the vocal cords move, as it is the hallmark of a singer's sound, and a student singer will have to work on developing a good vibrato while they master basic vocal skills. Most singers need to develop their own distinctive vibrato style so you will have your own special vibrato.

You might wonder how vibrato is produced in the throat. Keep the throat open yet close down the vocal cords at the same time. The training of your body, through good posture and tension, will also affect your ability to use the vibrato to your own best advantage.

Vibrato is a vocal style that is interpreted differently in various countries throughout the world. Some singers practice a rapidly changing vibrato style as others would rather sing with a flatter style with little or no vibrato variation. Countries such as China and Japan encourage a high-pitched, slow-moving very deliberate sound vibrato with their traditional national songs, and Western style choral music do not promote vibrato when the chorus sings.

When a singer wants to develop an attractive vibrato sound, there are a couple of facts to consider. First of all, a good vibrato doesn't happen overnight as it takes a lot of repetition and practice of basic singing skills. Correct breath support together with good posture helps contribute with an ability to sing a vibrato.

There are several problems to watch out for when you are looking the development of your own vibrato. A wobbly vibrato can occur when there is the a lack of tonal focus or a lack of discipline in the vocal cords, causing a quavering tone in the song. A vibrato that is too fast may be caused by too much pressure at the base of the tongue and can cause a displeasing sound, while a straight tone refers to a lack of vibrato at all.

If you are looking to develop a healthy vibrato, you will find that the first thing that you need to think about is your posture and positioning. Are you in a good place to get the sound that you need? Are you properly warmed up and ready to reach those high notes easily?

A beautiful vibrato can be cultivated with some practice in the basics of singing. Your singing teacher or a good friend or acquaintance who is a performer can offer you lots of tips and advice about achieving a fine vibrato sound. And finally, investigate some of the fine online singing courses that are written by experienced teachers for help if you do not have an instructor. - 15275

About the Author: