Hello Everyone = )

My name's Ivan Gonzalez and im currently attending a private college in Hoboken, New Jersey = ). I just started singing as a Countertenor at the age of 18 which i believe is the perfect age to really get into this type of vocal singing. I am currently taking voice lessons with a soprano who is obtaining her Ph.D in voice and music. She is also my choir teacher ^_^. I am currently working on Caro Mio Ben for my first recital and i did an Acapella version of it. I was wondering where i could post that hehe.

Me singing Caro Mio Ben

Attached Files

caro_mio_ben_2.wma (1.58 MB, 12 views)

Hello and welcome to this unique community, Ivan.

Being a vocal student myself I can assure you that you must find a different way of producing your sound. You must feel it yourself, that you don't have a lot of flexibility in your singing. I wouldn't worry though, there are going to be many frustrating hours before you find a better sound and then there will be even more hours until you find an even better sound and so it will go on for as long as you sing.

I recommend you to listen a lot to good baroque singers ( you can find recordings in the video section ). You should listen with great attention again and again to try and identify how the singer is producing his sound. I personally learn a lot by listening and imitating what I hear with as much precision as possible. I also think it'd be ideal that you wait with singing words for a good while and only use vowels for vocal production.

Thanks for the critique. My voice teacher says that i should try and find the "sweet spot" for a easier and more fuller and smoother tone. Also, i have a problem with my tongue hahaha. It tends too move when i try going for high notes! But thanks again for the feedback =).

Welcome to the site! I am listening to your Caro Mio Ben. Sounded a little strained, maybe from nerves? I think if you relax and practice with a good technique you'll do fine. You have a nice tone from what I can hear. Just need more training. Good luck to you!

Chris

thanks Chris. yea i was kinda sitting down haha. I was trying to direct sound toward my laptop's microphone thing. I've only started singing as a Countertenor this September. I plan to post more voice clips soon, but it would be cool too if i knew how to work a webcam so i could post on youtube = ). Also, i was kinda singing o mio babbino caro in my house for fun ^_^ kinda strained my voice though haha = ). I will post a version of either Ave Maria by Bach/Gounod or Schubert's version soon too. I know it's a bit of a challenge, but i love getting critiqued. It's the best way to learn ^_^

You are much braver than I am! I can't handle critique too well. Self-confidence and all that.

O Mio Babbino is tough one to do and please be easy on your voice and work up to that "A"!

Ave Maria is one of my all time fav's. I think the high is a "G" on that unless you find a lower key version.

Good luck and I can't wait to hear more from you.

chris

heh my voice teacher was making me try all the versions for Ave Maria by Bach/Gounod. I went from low voice to high voice to medium high voice haha. She wants me to focus on the medium high voice for now. I can hit those high notes, but the flow and legato of the piece is just not there yet. Hopefully she will let me try O mio babbino sometime, but the lyrics hopefully i can change for a man's perspective!

You think like I do. Just change the words! Good luck to you! Wish you the best!

chris

hi ivan,
in my opinion a singing student should in his first year should not get above f , so you're teacher is right and that is not only my opinion; all the singing taeachers in the seventeenth and eightteenth century told their pupils not to sing to high. i did'nt do that either. and now i'm at c 6. if you want to know more read my "introduction to myself" (p.s. I'm seventeen)