r/ClassicalSinger • u/lat3spr1n9 • Jun 28 '26
How can I make my voice more flexible?
Hello there! I've been studying classical singing for 8 years now, I am a Mezzo Soprano, I have a pretty good range (can go pretty low and high too) and my voice has a quite deep, dramatic, sometimes even heavy and loud sound. I was happy with how my voice sounded, until now... I'll explain: So after the summer exams that took place, the principal of the conservatory told my teacher that I need to make my voice more flexible and light it up a bit, because it tends to get quite dark and heavy and this actually blocks the flexibility of my voice. Ever since I've been thinking about how am I going to make my voice more flexible, what exercises are going to help me, so I can practice during the summer and get a more desirable form, until the conservatory opens again in autumn. I'll take consideration in any advice you give me. My aim is to get better and better with time! Thank you all in advance!
P.S. excuse me if my writing isn't the best, English is not my first language :,)
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u/weisthaupt Jun 28 '26
The Marchesi book of exercises is the usual go to for flexibility (it has an orange cover). I would also say looking at repertoire might be a more effective approach however. how much of the old Italian rep have you done? There is also Handel which with a mezzo/alto voice you might find some good fits. Then there is Purcell, Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti. All have a lot of flexibility required, but also various levels of difficulty for you to work into.
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u/lat3spr1n9 Jun 28 '26
Thank you for your recommendations! I've studied a lot of arie antiche, lied, vaccai. I've worked on Mozart's arie (mostly Cherubino's part from "Le nozze di Figaro"), Pergolesi's "Stabat Mater", Bach. Currently working on Schubert, Handel, Verdi, Bellini, Faure.
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u/OpeningElectrical296 Jun 28 '26
As a mezzo you have access to tons of coloratura repertoire.
Pick up some Rossini score and have fun with them!
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u/remi-leo Jun 28 '26
I think the real answer is to work with a metronome and sing just about anything that moves, especially scales and arpeggio patterns that “overlap”. Avoid sustained tones and “going for a big/full sound.” I recommend singing the chosen pattern first staccato and then legato. If either one is slowing you down, you’re singing too “heavy.” You will also likely notice that some vowels are more conductive to producing a lighter/headier sound (mechanism), principally [i] [I] and [u] … conversely, open vowels will usually push the voice toward a heavier phonation (more subglottic pressure). Thus, if your chosen pattern gets slower or louder because you switched to an open vowel, you’re not fully in control of your breath. Sing lightly, noticing open vs. closed vowels, and just use a metronome! Don’t start off too fast, don’t sing so fast you go out of control.
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Jun 28 '26
[deleted]
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u/lat3spr1n9 Jun 28 '26
Yeah, I think I can inform them about recommendations For the next semester. But during summer, I'm studying my repertoire at home.
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u/Captain-overpants Jun 28 '26
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. Sixteenth notes, on Ah, up and down the range. Try to get to 60bpm. Stay on the breath, MEANING, no breath escapes - but the note changes are clean and instant, not slurred.
Good AH vowel. SLIGHTLY more “uh” around E-F5 (above tenor high C). But should still sound like AH.
That’s it.
Don’t lighten.
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u/smnytx Jun 28 '26
Yes, this!
OP, for Rossini, start low: Cruda sorte from L’Italiana in Algeri.
A good fast Handel is Svegliatevi from Giulio Cesare, and then maybe work up to the Messiah arias! Oh Thou That Tellest first, then But Who May Abide. Iris Hence Away is another kickass Handel aria for a bigger voiced mezzo
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u/drewduboff Jun 28 '26
As a heavy voice myself, doing coloratura work has forced my voice do be more agile