Do you ever get confused and frustrated by all the conflicting information around the idea of belting?
Some voice teachers shun the idea that there’s even such a thing as healthy belting and steer their singers away from belting entirely. Others teach a technique that doesn’t address the tensions that inefficient belting creates, unknowingly leading their singers down a dangerous path toward possible vocal injury.
READ: 8 Original Film Songs to Belt at Your Next Audition
Recently, I heard from a member of my virtual voice studio who was asking these very questions and I wanted to share her email because I have a feeling you may be wondering the same thing. She wrote:
There is so much information nowadays about singing technique and I am very passionate about it. The thing is, I have read a lot of books about vocal technique and met a lot of teachers in order to improve my knowledge (and singing, of course). Let’s just say the information gathered was sometimes so confusing and tension-friendly... I have a question about those really high belting notes for females (d-d#-e-f): Do you have some advice in order to help one access those notes in a powerful way? Is it enough to think about lower support and eliminating tension (mental and physical) in order to sustain those notes in a healthy way?
Belting is tricky, but it should not hurt and doesn’t have to be scary. In today’s video, I answer her question and do my best to demonstrate the way I find a healthy belt in the higher part of my chest register.
Check out Backstage’s musicals audition listings!
The views expressed in this article are solely that of the individual(s) providing them,
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Backstage or its staff.
