Practicing plan

[frisbeeman]

Hi! I'm an 18 year old male with a high bass voice. For the past 3 months I have been taking voice lessons and have improved tremendously; however, with this improvement has come ambition and with this ambition has come over practicing and vocal fatigue. I almost always have a slightly throat after practicing and am becoming worried that I may permanently damage my voice. Therefore, I have set forth the following plan: 1) Take tomorrow off completely 2) On Sunday do a short low impact vocal warm up with absolutely no straining 3) After Sunday I go back to a regular practice routine only this time it will be shorter and I will focus on eliminating strain and building stamina. So, does that sound like a reasonable plan? Do you have any critiques?

[Owen Korzec]

Sounds like a good plan.

EXCEPT do not focus on building stamina, focus on singing in a way that gives you the extra longevity naturally. Maybe that is what you mean by building stamina but it's important to clarify.

Because if at any time you feel like you're really working to "build stamina" - trying to stretch how long you can sing without resting, through mere physical endurance, and then you don't rest your voice the next day, that is essentially the definition of overusing your voice. So avoid that.

Stick to shorter sessions like you said and if you are on your own and don't have to perform, stop immediately the second you feel fatigue and take a short break. When you feel ready to start again, go back to it. You'll be able to practice longer if you really get in touch with your fatigue and take breaks whenever you feel it necessary. Do this as frequently as you need until your technique improves enough that it allows you to use your voice for longer without getting fatigued.

[ronws]

what is the range of a high bass? I had not heard of that. Which does not mean that it does not exist, just I had not heard of it.

[frisbeeman]

I suppose basso cantante is the operatic term. A range of e2-f#4 or around there. I don't really have the upper register yet but I'm working on it.

[Sun]

I suppose basso cantante is the operatic term. A range of e2-f#4 or around there. I don't really have the upper register yet but I'm working on it.

This forum really needs a FAQ

[Xamedhi]

This forum really needs a FAQ

AAAAAH!! Hahahah That really made me laugh, man.

I completely agree on the idea of a FAQ. There are so many people coming lately and talking about fachs that it would be cool to have a "general response" for them, hehe.

Now, on topic, a register from E2 to F#4 is aproximately what the majority of guys with some training and strength in chest voice can do in pure chest voice/M1/whatever. Being tenor, baritenor, megatenor, infradoomtone, bassochist or whatever, is really irrelevant in contemporary singing.

[ronws]

I suppose basso cantante is the operatic term. A range of e2-f#4 or around there. I don't really have the upper register yet but I'm working on it.

Xamedhi is right, range description is secondary and not all that necessary outside of opera. However, in my redneck opinion, e2 to f#4 is not bass or high bass. And depending on the weight of the voice, it may not even be baritone. I am, for better or worse, a tenor, and I have croaked an E2. Not usable in opera or chamber music, but I was using a mic and post-recording editing to boost the volume and make it sound usable. Ah, the magic of the digital age.

Anyway, in martial arts, there is the wisdom to train like you will fight. I think you can use that in singing. Train for the songs and style that you want, regardless of what is your lowest and highest notes.