Whether you want to become a professional opera singer or just sing as a hobby, practicing the art of opera can improve your singing voice. Learning and perfecting any skill takes a lot of practice, but the results will be worth the hard work you put into learning to sing opera.
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Part 1 of 4: Learning Opera
Step 1. Familiarize yourself with classical singing
Establishing good general singing techniques can help you succeed in all styles of vocal music. You may want to read the wikiHow article on classical singing.
Step 2. Listen to the recorded opera
Familiarizing yourself with the voices in opera will help you become successful.
- Look for video or audio clips online, buy CDs of famous opera performances, or check opera recordings at your local library.
- Be sure to look for video tapes or DVDs as well as CDs. Seeing other singers' postures and faces will help you learn about the body language to expect from opera singers.
Step 3. Attend a live opera performance
Watching videos can help, but it's not like going to a live performance to really get a feel for opera. Most major cities have seasonal opera performances, if not all year round.
Step 4. Learn about common opera languages
Most operas are performed in other languages, and becoming familiar with the language often makes the singing come more naturally to you. Opera is often in Italy, Germany, or France.
Step 5. Know the most famous operas
You need to be knowledgeable about the most commonly performed operas. Familiarize yourself with the music, composers, and basic performance history of most famous operas..
Step 6. Determine your vocal range
If you plan to market your talent, you need to know how to identify yourself as a singer. Opera singers are often categorized as soprano, mezzo-soprano, contralto, tenor, countertenor, baritone, and bass.
Step 7. Learn how to read music
If you don't know how to read music, you may need to learn, especially if you plan to sing professionally.
Part 2 of 4: Getting Prepared by Practicing Your Voice
Step 1. Learn about breathing and posture
Before singing the first note, you may want to practice your breathing and posture. Taking very deep breaths is a necessary skill for opera singing, and a relaxed, upright posture is essential for effective vocal performance.
- Get rid of any habits like pulling your stomach in or holding pressure in your throat while breathing.
- Practice taking deep breaths first slowly and then more quickly without putting pressure on your throat or stomach.
Step 2. Find a good vocal trainer
The best way to learn to sing to the best of your ability is to hire a qualified vocal coach. He will be able to work with you face to face to make you the best singer you can be.
- Find a professional trainer. Amateur voice trainers may be more affordable, but they may not provide the same results and may even damage your vocal cords.
- Use the same vocal trainers used by professional opera singers in your area. That way, you know the coach is good. He may also be able to introduce you to other people in the world of opera.
- If you're using an online database or a site to find trainers, be sure to read reviews or testimonials. If these are not available, contact the voice coach and ask for some references.
Step 3. Don't use a vocal trainer who presses your voice too hard
A vocal trainer pressing you or your voice too loud can cause damage.
- If your neck often hurts, let the teacher know right away. This helps him know where you are comfortable and the range of your voice.
- If your neck is in constant pain, you may be singing too high or low, out of your core range.
Step 4. Register for a group class
A more affordable way to practice with a voice coach is to find an opera singing class. Look for a local music school. If there are no classes, suggest one class and recruit several people to make sure the class is "formed."
Step 5. Use vocal training software
If you can't afford to hire a vocal coach or if you don't have time to take lessons during normal business hours, consider using vocal training software.
- Make sure you have all the equipment needed to use the software: at a minimum, a computer, microphone, and speakers.
- The software will “listen” to your singing and help you learn to sing at pitch. The software may also help you read music.
Step 6. Teach yourself how to sing
While this is definitely not the best way to learn, teaching yourself is an option, especially if you don't expect to become a professional opera singer (Note: some sound experts say that you should never try to sing opera without a trained vocal teacher)
- Continue listening to the opera and try to imitate the sounds you hear.
- Record yourself singing and watching, paying attention to your posture, breathing and pitch.
- Be careful not to push yourself too hard and damage your voice. Singing fluently and avoiding notes that seem to hurt your throat will help keep your voice healthy.
Part 3 of 4: Training Your Voice for Opera
Step 1. Practice your singing posture
You should sing standing up, keep your head facing forward, keep your jaw relaxed (not bent or pulled back), and try not to move your head up or down.
Step 2. Try to figure out how wide you should open your mouth
You want your voice to resonate inside your mouth, and your mouth needs to be wide enough to let the sound out, but not so wide that it loses word articulation.
Recording yourself singing with different mouth openings can help you judge the volume if you can't tell when you're singing
Step 3. Train your ears for pitch
Opera embellishments – as well as demanding music – require you to be able to vary the minutes on the pitch.
- You need to have a very good relative pitch if you want to sing opera.
- If you can develop a perfect (or near perfect) pitch, you'll be more successful. This can take years of practice, so it's a goal to work towards: don't get frustrated if it doesn't go easy.
- Vocal training software can help identify and even imagine the pitch of your singing.
Step 4. Learn to sing trill
A trill is a rapid alternation between two notes. To sing an effective trill, make sure you can sing each note at a good pitch and sound.
- Trill notes are often separate half or full steps.
- Trill signifies increased emotion and vocal mastery.
Step 5. Learn the art of coloratura
Coloratura is one of the defining elements of opera. Coloratura is the inclusion of vocal improvisation specifically in musical works. These may include scales, trills, arpeggios, and appoggiatura.
- Scale is a set of pitch increments.
- Arpeggio is when the notes of a chorus are articulated, sung one after another rather than all at once.
- Appoggiatura is a vocal embellishment in which the singer starts with a "wrong" note (a different pitch than required) but then changes her voice to the correct pitch - commonly known as dissonance that breaks in harmony.
Step 6. Sing every day
Opera singing requires a lot of stamina. With daily practice, your voice will get used to being used frequently and you will prepare yourself for the hard work of opera.
- You may not want to practice if you're sick, especially if you have a lot of dry nasal discharge. The mucus can irritate your vocal cords.
- Take the opportunity to practice informally too – for example, play an opera CD in the car and sing along on your commute. This may not be a substitute for a more formal exercise, but it will help.
Step 7. Record yourself practicing
Especially if you're not working as a teacher, you need to get into the habit of listening to your own voice and giving yourself constructive feedback. Listen to your breathing, pitch, pronunciation, and voice pressure.
Step 8. Sing using your core muscles
Using your core instead of just singing in your throat will help you sing louder and develop stamina. Your core is the most important muscle for opera singing, and you may want to strengthen it as part of your practice regimen.
Step 9. Master your breathing
Deep breathing is important in opera singing. So is singing a staccato note, which requires a quick stop of breath. Having complete control over your breathing will help you become more successful with singing.
Step 10. Practice without a microphone
Unlike other types of singers, opera singers do not use a microphone; instead, they learn how to amplify their voices so that they are conveyed clearly over large spaces.
- Find the right acoustic practice room: a small room may cause you to limit the volume.
- Try increasing the volume without suppressing your voice. Moving the breath source and song from your throat down into your core will help increase the volume.
- Consider singing outdoors or in a very large room.
Step 11. Develop effective exercise habits
Start by focusing and breathing, then set goals for the workout day.
- Be sure to fully warm up to your voice before trying to sing the top or bottom notes out of your range.
- You may find that your voice is different in the morning. Consider practicing later in the day.
Part 4 of 4: Determining How to Use Your Talents
Step 1. Be a professional singer
You may decide that you want to become a professional opera singer if you have a really good voice, great tone, and great pitch. You may want to develop acting skills in addition to your singing.
- Find a place where auditions are being held. Make sure you know what to expect in order to get ready for your audition and give your best appearance.
- Consider moving to an area where opera is very popular and more opera singing jobs are offered. This may mean moving to a bigger city or to another country.
Step 2. Find a theater community
While the theater community may not open up frequent venues for opera productions, they may open venues for several musical theater productions each year. Consider trying out for an upcoming musical – you might even get free vocal training from the music director for being a performer.
Step 3. Become a vocal coach
If you like being around singers and singers but don't want to sing professionally, consider practicing as a vocal coach. You can help teach other aspiring singers how to use their voices beautifully.
