The #1 place for people who love Broadway.
Singing Solo for the First Time. Any Tips?
Tonight this girl who has never sang in front of anyone by herself ever and is actually a bit traumatized to is auditioning for a musical and I have to sing solo. :/ I'm a bit nervous, especially because I've had my family literally block their ears and complain whenever I sing one note along with the radio for as long as I can remember, even if I'm only singing along for fun. I can't even muster up the strength to practice singing an audition song in my own house and I get emotional when I have to sing in front of people. I don't think I'm great by any stretch and don't ever expect to be, but I know I'm not THAT bad. For one, I know for a fact I'm not tone deaf from years of playing other instruments, and I've recorded myself singing before and it may not sound wonderful, but I personally don't believe I'm absolutely horrendous. My friends say that I'm not that bad either, but I'm not sure whether to trust family or close friends. Both have let me down before.
But whenever I sing, I'm soooo afraid of people's reactions, especially where they'll be judging me tonight. :/ I really only want to be in the ensemble but I still have to audition.
So do you guys have any tips about singing solo? And no, I can't do tech as much even though I want to as I mentioned in the Techie thread.
btw, my voice is very low. Alto, or is it possible for girls to sing tenor? I have a better time singing guys songs than girls songs. ^^
But whenever I sing, I'm soooo afraid of people's reactions, especially where they'll be judging me tonight. :/ I really only want to be in the ensemble but I still have to audition.
So do you guys have any tips about singing solo? And no, I can't do tech as much even though I want to as I mentioned in the Techie thread.
btw, my voice is very low. Alto, or is it possible for girls to sing tenor? I have a better time singing guys songs than girls songs. ^^
Views: 118
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Madeline on -
I'm like the exact same way! Haha, legit. And I have an audition for Les Mis next week, which I'm wicked nervous for because I probs won't get in. =/ Whatever
Anyway, what usually makes me feel a little bit better is to just remember that the people you're singing in front of are just people and they don't expect you to be perfect. If you mess up or don't do your best, they're not going to hate you. And remember, there's always someone after you, who's just as nervous as you. Just try your best and don't be too worried about it. Break legs!
-
Permalink Reply by Nightingale-Duet on -
That's weird this audtion is for Les Miz! Unfortunately there's no speaking parts. :( I consider myself to be a good actor, just a crappy singer.
Thanks for the advice! xD I'm really not too concerned about being the best since I'm already dedicated to another production and just want to be thrown into the ensemble so I can be part of the show, just not a big one. And then I don't need to embarass myself. XD It's more everyone's reactions that scares me. I've never had anyone but my family and friends really hear me sing.
-
Permalink Reply by David Rigano on -
Is there a music teacher at the school who you could take you song to and see if they'll give you some help during a free period or a lunch or something?
As far as nerves go, we can talk on and on, but the best thing will be for you to feel confident with yourself because you've done the necessary work.
-
Permalink Reply by Mary-Kate O'T. on -
omg seriously same situation here! my family will be all sarcastic and make fun of me when i sing in my room. they dont know how much those statements hurt me. and i have a sorta lower voice, but not by much. and they dont realize how much i actually want to sing. so whatever advice you get will probably work for me too! haha. and just saying if you wanted to talk about how much we cant sing in our houses, im all for it... hahaha
-
Permalink Reply by Nightingale-Duet on
-
lol, I could go on and on about my family making fun of me. What annoys me more than the singing is when they tell me I can't act, yet they've never seen me act. And not to brag, but I was voted the best actress in my theatre class last year by my classmates, so I can't be THAT bad.
Yes, it's a bit of a problem. Really, why can't I just have fun and sing along to the radio when I'm in the car or sing along to my ipod without being told I suck? I'm just singing along, I don't think I'm amazing at it or anything. I wanted to take singing lessons last year, but I couldn't get the courage to ask and decided I'd rather do tech stuff anyway and I'm better at it. My piano teacher gave me two singing lessons last year but she told me I was a soprano when after trying to sing soprano realized that my voice is way more alto like I always thought. She gave up on me. I don't think it's because I'm beyond hope, though. It's more like I used to want to play professionally and now I don't because of theatre, and she isn't too happy about it (not that I care.) Probably figured teaching me to sing showtunes was only pushing me into theatre more. -___-
But when I was at a get-together with some of my friends once, they got me to sing the theme from Phantom of the Opera (the guy's part) because I had a phantom mask with me (costume party). Afterwards they asked, "What do you mean you suck!? You're not that bad, your voice is just lower than most girls." I don't know whether to trust their opinion or not (and they weren't drunk or anything, don't worry ^^), but it's made me think about what my family has said in the past. Maybe I'll never be a professional singer nor do I want to, but then again maybe I'm not too bad.
-
Permalink Reply by Jessica on -
Sometimes, you have to ignore people like this, even though they may be best friends or family. How else are you going to get better if you don't practice? I've found that if you always let these comments get to you, it'll take away from what you want to do. And you never know, maybe you do something that no one else has done before. Auditions in my mind is a one on one time with the director or whoever is casting to show them and give them every thing you've got; even if it means that it's not perfect. So, go out there, give it your all and break-a-leg.
-
Permalink Reply by Nightingale-Duet on
-
I did audition! XD Our auditions are actually really laid-back, I found out. You just get up on the stage and sing a song that isn't hip-hop or rap. A lot of people aren't that great, so it's not too intimadating unless you go up after someone who's amazing. I was glad I didn't jump back and decide not to do the song I had been planning on from La Cage Aux Folles. I almost decided to do Betrayed from The Producers because none of my friends knew La Cage and kept giving me strange looks when they asked what song I was doing, but because of the risque lyrics in Betrayed decided not to do it and come off too strong. Good thing I did. No one else knew La Cage, but our director and did and I guess he really likes that musical. Not sure if my singing was great (I thought it was okay) but he liked the song choice!
-
Permalink Reply by David Rigano on
-
Which song from La Cage?
-
Permalink Reply by Liza Tregillus on -
I sang a lot in high school, then dropped it for fifteen years and have sung now for 20 years with a small town choral society. I was terrified of solos! So I took a Vocal Symposium class at the local college (Ft. Lewis). The professor was an amazing voice coach, and we had to sing arias in front of class! The climate of the class was very supportive, however. Students who were in there were not all "divas", some were studying to be a choir or band teacher and needed the basics of singing. It was heartwarming to see the support for less talented singers as they grew in ability! I never became as good as I might have had I started at a younger age, but I can pull off an occasional solo without getting diarrhea(!) I would really encourage you to do something similar; you'll develop your "instrument' and enjoy singing so much more!!
-
Permalink Reply by Ashley Boone on -
Nightingale (what is your real name, btw?) I know how you feel. Growing up I was always told (though they'd never admit it now) that I could not sing and was tone deaf and would never be a singer, so even though I liked singing I always believed it-- and long story short I finally decided I was going to get a voice coach and work my a$$ of until I was told there was no hope-- low and behold I am not amazing, and I have a lot of work ahead of me, but I have a whole lot of potential and the will and drive to achieve my dreams.
As far as nerves-- nothing but continuing to sing in front of people and audition can make it better. I can sing in front of others and in rehearsals just fine... but when you put me all alone on that big stage with one piano and 3 directors staring at me, I shake-- I shake violently, so bad I have to plant myself firmly and focus everything on not shaking (which means my song is kinda on autopilot, which is bad) and it affects my voice....but audition and sing, pratice practice practice.
Let us know if you get cast!
-
Permalink Reply by Nightingale-Duet on
-
Stupid moi never replied to these comments . . . yay for procrastination. XP
David, the song I sang from La Cage was The Best of Times.
Ashley, I'd rather not give my real name online, I've always been weird about that. And I can completely relate to you. I love singing, but I never do it because the moment I open my mouth I'm made fun of by family. I don't think I'm tone deaf and I think I have an okay voice. Ever since auditions, people have been telling me that while not the greatest, I'm good. Whether they're just saying this, who knows, but I think they're being sincere.
Even if I could sing, though, I don't think I would want to be an actress. It's just something in the theatre that I enjoy seeing others do, but for me it's just fun in school plays. I'd much rather be doing lighting design or directing, which is what I want to pursue and what I think I'll be the best at. Now if I only I could do the lighting design at my school . . . because whoever is doing it has no clue what they're doing. (Harsh red lights during 'Silent Night'. Yeah. Something wrong.) But oh well, acting is fun for now. xD And I was cast as a random beggar (which is good for a sophomore.)
 |
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
 |
 |
© 2012 Created by Broadway Space.
GoTickets.com has a fine selection of Broadway tickets available, including hard to find Fences theater tickets and Lion King tickets.
Shop Broadway Tickets for the hottest Broadway events including hard-to-find Wicked Tickets, Jersey Boys Tickets, Book of Mormon Tickets, Spiderman Tickets and Josh Groban Tour information.
