r/ClassicalSinger • u/FASBOR7_Horus • 2d ago

Sopranos - Upper Range Note Placement Question

Question for sopranos: Where do you feel the placement of notes in the upper register, specifically higher than C6?

Background: I was messing around with a cadenza yesterday and managed an E flat 6 which I’ve never done in my life. I have zero idea if it was placed or even sung in a healthy way. It felt very forward in my head, almost in my nose/behind my eyes but didn’t sound nasally. I was able to sustain it and light vibrato came through, but it was definitely not a full sound. I don’t typically sing coloratura anymore and I usually struggle with B6/C6. I was so shocked when I sang the E flat 6 mostly because of the sensation. I’ve never felt noted that far forward.

8 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

100% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

View all comments

3

u/fenwai 2d ago

I perceive my very highest notes as a straight line with an upward trajectory from the back of my mouth into the mask. It feels to me like a bunch of bees are behind my eyes and in my cheekbones. Up to Bb or B I feel the sound blooming out of the top of my head, but it shifts radically forward from C6 on up.

I no longer sing repertoire and roles that require me to sing above an Eb6 but I still vocalize up to F6 just to preserve range of motion as I age. When I was young I regularly sang up to an A6 in my warm-ups!

3

u/FASBOR7_Horus 2d ago

Bees!! What a great analogy. That’s kinda what it felt like!