Learn about how the voice can be used in different ways and different styles including singing, rap and beatboxing.
Listen to the vocal styles of Plan B, Vince Staples and the Soweto Gospel Choir.
Find out how to protect and train your voice.
Watch how Tara changes her breathing and vocal technique to perform with the band.
Tara:La la la la la la la. La. La la la la la la la la… Do you mind if we run through the chorus a few times before the others come in?
Ben: Sure.
GUITAR & DRUMS PLAYING
Tara:We build up, we break it down.
When I’m not sure, you bring me round.
Rising up through the noise, I hear a new sound.
I hear it loud and clear. This is the sound of us.
Ooh, that’s tough! I’m running out of breath. I need to work out when to breath.
Rising up through the noise, I hear a new sound.
I hear it loud and clear. This is the sound of us.
Okay, let’s try it again.
GUITAR & DRUMS PLAYING
Tara:We build up, we break it down.
When I’m not sure, you bring me round.
Rising up through the noise, I hear a new sound.
I hear it loud and clear. This is the sound of us.
Dujon: That was great.
Ben: What if you played around with the dynamics too? Maybe you could change the volume to really emphasise the shape of the melody?
Tara: Okay, that could work really well with the lyrics too. Build it up, break it down, and I can extend some of the phrases, now that I’ve sorted out my breathing.
Dujon: One, two, three, four-
GUITAR & DRUMS PLAYING
Tara:We build up, we break it down.
When I’m not sure, you bring me round.
Rising up through the noise, I hear a new sound.
I hear it loud and clear. This is the sound of us.
Sarah: That sounds pretty great.
Tara: Thanks, just trying out a few ideas. Now should we try it with the whole band?
Ben: Sure.
GUITAR & DRUMS PLAYING
Tara:We build up, we break it down.
When I’m not sure, you bring me round.
Rising up through the noise, I hear a new sound.
I hear it loud and clear. This is the sound of us.
The voice is a personal instrument and no two voices sound the same. Using the voice is an important form of communication, both in spoken word and music.
Throughout the history of music, the voice has been used to communicate a variety of ideas as a means of personal expression. Vocal performances are also used to entertain in opera, musicals, concerts and many other types of shows.
Singing
There are many different styles of singing. Singing in a classical style, like opera, often requires a lot of training.
Pop music singing is different. It uses the middle range of the voice (or chest voice). Popular music covers many different music styles, such as jazz, rock and pop.
When singers sing different notes at the same time, like backing singers do, they are said to be singing in harmony.
Learn how to sing like an opera star with these five top tips.
BBC Bitesiiiiiiize!
Top 5 tips to improve your singing
Tip 1: Sing like you're yelling
Now that might sound weird, but imagine: an Italian a few hundred years ago in a big busy market or field.
They're not going to be going:[In a casual voice] "Hey, you over there."They'll be like:[In a loud, projected voice] "Hey! You over there!" "How's it going!" "Buy on get one free!"
It's also not dissimilar to animalistic sounds. If you imagine a cow mooing, it's resonant.
Tip 2: Breathe like a baby
To improve your breathing, think about breathing like a baby. It's from the belly. Their ribs and their belly are expanding, and when they cry or yell, they're not using their neck. They're using their diaphragm and their belly to really make a powerful sound.
"Waaah! I need some milk!"
And they can do that for hours and hours, think about a baby crying all night. How do they not damage their vocal cords when they do it? Because they're breathing well, because they don't know any other way. They don't have the stresses and strains that we have.
We have tension, we're thinking of this, we're talking from [the throat]. They're just relaxed, and they're breathing from [the belly].
Tip 3: Sing like you talk
If you find yourself singing and then you go to speak, no one speaks like this. So you sing-
"I'm going to sing the same way that I speak!" It all comes from the same voice and body. Do you understand what I say?
Top 4: Sing from your chest
You should try to feel the buzzing or ringing in front of your face. And also if you put your hand here [in the middle of your chest], and you're singing or speaking, you can feel a vibration in your chest.
Now, you should try and keep that whenever you sing. Because that's what will carry in a theatre. Opera singers use a lot of chest resonance. As you can tell, if you rely on the resonance of your head, think of the size of that compared to your chest.
That's what is going to create the huge, booking, powerful sound.
Tip 5: Sing!
You won't see results in the gym if you only go once a week. It's the same with singing, you just have to do it. Train, develop your voice. You've just got to practise.
So, I find myself just singing sometimes, like now. I just can't stop myself. You just have to do it all the time.
For all of your revision needs, check out BBC BITESIIIIIIIIZE!
Beatboxing
This is when a voice is used to imitate the sound of a drum machine and percussion sounds. The vocalist makes different sounds at different pitches using their mouth, lips, tongue and voice. Often a microphone is used to help with the overall effect too. Beatboxing can also be used as a backing for rap, and is often associated with hip-hop music.
Rapping
This is a vocal style which involves a performer speaking in time with a beat, and often in rhyme. It can be performed in a variety of ways, either over beatboxing or a musical accompaniment. Rap is often associated with hip-hop music. Its components include:
- Content – what is being said
- Flow – the rhythm and the rhyme
- Delivery – the tone of the speech
Listen to these examples of vocal performances
Listen to Plan B's Live Lounge cover of Tinie Tempah's Pass Out. It opens with a beatboxed introduction, with the vocalists making the sound of a drum kit as well as the synth hook from the original song.
Listen to Vince Staples rap in time to the beat in Big Fish. He varies his flow in this verse to add interest to the rap and rhymes at lots of different points.
Listen to Amahlati by the Soweto Gospel Choir. This is an African choir with a direct sound and blend. Notice how they sing in harmony.
Your turn
Using your voice is a personal thing but there is a style of singing for everyone. If you don’t know what style you might enjoy, experiment to find out what works for you. Here are some suggestions on how to start:
Pick a style of music you’re interested in. If it requires sheet music, you are likely to find lyrics and music on the internet. Listen to some versions of a chosen song and have a go – it doesn’t have to be perfect!
Don’t be put off if it doesn’t sound good at first. Keep practising and try to copy the song styles as best as you can.
Find other people to perform with, whether that’s in your home, at school or in groups with friends. It’s much more fun to have a go together.
Listen to lots of music and performances, both professional and amateur.
If you want to pursue this further, consider finding experts in the style, for example singing teachers, local choirs or online tutorials.
How to look after your voice
If you are a vocalist of any kind, it is important that you take some basic steps to look after your voice. Here are our key tips:
Drink plenty of water every day.
Focus on good posture to avoid tension and strain.
When you are singing or speaking, try to breathe properly by supporting your voice with deep breaths from your chest, which will take the focus off your throat.
Always warm up and avoid putting strain on your voice by shouting and whispering.
Explore the score
Try performing the song The Sound Of Us.
Download the sheet music and learn to sing the song solo or with a group.
The Sound Of Us - Full score. document
Download the sheet music of the band's song The Sound Of Us.
Listen and sing along
Listen to the recordings of the band's song The Sound Of Us.
Try singing along and performing your own version.
Listen to the band performing their song The Sound Of Us.
This recording just has Tara's vocal part from The Sound Of Us. Listen and focus on the lyrics and melody.
Listen to the electronic mix of The Sound of Us and see if you can perform your own version of the track.
Quiz
Keywords
| Keyword | Definition |
|---|---|
| beatboxing | The vocal imitation of a drum machine and other percussive sounds. |
| rapping | A style of music including the spoken word in time with a beat. |
| opera | A piece of performance music telling a story, using solo singers, chorus and orchestra. |
| chest voice | The lower register of your voice, often used for speaking. It usually has a warmer tone. When you put your hand to your chest while using it, you will feel a vibration. |
| loop | When a musical idea, rhythm or other sound material is repeated. |
| choir | A group of singers who perform together. |
| scatting | When the voice is used to imitate an instrument, often singing random syllables rather than real words. |
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