How to Sing Opera: Explore the Opera Singing Technique

Opera is an art form that combines classical singing techniques with often grand theatrical production. Professional opera singers are responsible for both acting a role within the context of an opera and producing enough vocal power to fill an opera house.

The classic opera singing technique is bel canto, or “beautiful singing” in Italian. Bel canto has several characteristics recognizable to opera fans worldwide:

• Clear articulation: Operatic singing stresses clear diction so the audience can hear each word sung.
• Emotional alignment with the music: Performing an opera song requires creating a tone and texture with your voice that matches the emotionality of the song. Aligning emotionally with the music has to do with your vocal timbre and getting into character.
• Variable rhythm and tonality: Opera music often requires the performer to use both legato and staccato articulation—singing smoothly and in shorter, punctuated bursts. Opera also features a wide range between high notes and low notes. The overall effect is one of great variety in tone and tempo.
• Vibrato: Standout arias in an opera performance are often made more memorable by the singer’s mastery of the vibrato technique—varying pitch slightly while holding a note for a long time. Learn more about the vibrato voice.

Opera is one of the more advanced singing styles, but it’s possible to learn with proper preparation.

1. 1. Identify your vocal range. Knowing your voice type will help you channel your efforts more effectively, so experiment to find out if you’re a mezzo-soprano, baritone, or something in-between. Here’s how to find your singing voice.
2. 2. Strengthen and gain greater control over your voice. Practicing breathing from your diaphragm and alternating between chest voice and head voice are vital components of learning to sing opera. The more you can direct your power, the more effective you’ll be at singing opera.
3. 3. Gain familiarity with the more common opera languages. Classic opera is often sung in Italian, French, or German. Try to focus on one of those to start. Even if you don’t learn the language itself, get used to the sounds and pronunciations you’ll need to perform this singing style.
4. 4. Hire a vocal coach. Taking singing lessons from a trained professional will give you outside feedback from an expert on whether you’re targeting the correct range for your voice.

Learning to sing opera requires patience and commitment. Here are some ways to more fully immerse yourself in the world of opera music:

1. 1. Take care of your vocal cords. Regular warmups and vocal exercises will keep your vocal cords strong and pliable and prevent you from blowing them out. Learn how to warm up your voice.
2. 2. Watch and listen to opera. By attending live performances or watching videos, you can get a sense of the vocal techniques and gesturing common to the form to apply it to your practice.
3. 3. Brush up on your sheet music skills. You don’t necessarily need to know how to play classical music to sing opera, but you may need to read sheet music if you are going to auditions. If you already know how to read piano sheet music, you’ll have an easier time.

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