BBC Over the Rainbow, A step-by-step guide to singing

A step-by-step guide to singing

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Welcome to the Over the Rainbow guide to
singing. You’ve seen the show, now it’s time to
have a go yourself.
Whether you’re an absolute beginner, or
haven’t sung in a while, it’s never too late to
get into singing.
Singing can give you courage, get your
heart pumping and might even boost your
brain power!
Read on for warm-up exercises, singing tips and
who to contact if you want to take the next step.
Remember, you can sing anywhere – on the sofa,
in the shower, or with your friends on the road!
Since the BBC and I collaborated on our first
theatre casting show “How Do You Solve A
Problem Like Maria?”, I have been astonished
by the number of people wanting to take part
in musical theatre – this booklet is for you.
Have fun and keep singing!
Andrew Lloyd Webber
The A to OZ guide to singing...
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Getting started
Warming up
Posture
Breathing
Your body
Your voice
Good posture will help you
Breathing well will support
Singers are like athletes:
Warm up your voice to avoid
make a good sound:
your voice. Developing good
they need to warm up before
straining and damaging your
–
breathing takes practice
they perform.
vocal cords.
Stand up straight – imagine
and patience:
a string pulling you up from
– Shake out your body to
– Breathe out through your
the top of your head.
– Breathe deeply from your
loosen up.
mouth releasing all the air
–
lower lungs – imagine a
from your lungs.
Place your feet shoulder-
– Slowly stretch your arms up
rubber ring around your
width apart.
to the ceiling and then reach – Once your lungs feel
waist. Breathe in and try to
–
down to the floor.
completely empty, relax
Look straight ahead.
push the ring outwards.
your stomach muscles,
–
– Roll your shoulders
Keep your shoulders down.
– Breathe in through your nose
open your mouth and let
backwards and then
– Try to relax – tension will
and out through your nose
the air flood back in. Do this
forwards.
prevent you from making
and mouth.
several times.
– Very gently roll your head
a good sound.
– Avoid raising your shoulders
– Now breathe in again and
from side to side – don’t
as you breathe in – keep
when you release the air add
push too hard or you may
them relaxed and level.
an “sss” sound. See how long
strain your neck.
you can hold it.
– Try this again using “shh”
and “fff” sounds. This will
A simple exercise to try:
warm up your mouth and
Lie on the floor on your back with your hands on
vocal cords, and help to
your stomach. Breathe in (inhale) and your hands
build different vocal muscles.
will rise. Now breathe out (exhale) and they will
lower. In this position it is virtually impossible to
breathe incorrectly. Try to breathe in the same
way when you sing.
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Find your voice
Practice makes perfect
Now you’ve warmed up, it’s
Volume
Practise your breathing and vocal exercises regularly.
time to find out what your
– Choose a comfortable note
Even a little will help – ten minutes of regular practice
voice can do.
and sing “Ahhhh”.
can make a big difference. A gentle warm-up each day
will increase your lung strength and capacity.
Range (the highest and lowest – Start as quietly as you can
notes you can sing)
and slowly build in volume
– Put on one of your favourite
– Try a tricky song or a difficult
(remember to breathe!).
CDs and sing along to a song
note – it may be tough, but
– Sing the note that comes
that you know well. Choose
this is a great way to develop
most naturally to you.
– You can also use sounds
songs that have a familiar,
your technique and range.
from your favourite songs.
– Gradually take the pitch up
simple melody and a limited
Try using the “ha” from:
– Be brave. How about singing
to the highest note you can
range.
in front of a friend for
sing without straining.
“Ha ha ha, ho ho ho, and
– Take passages of songs
feedback?
a couple of tra la las.”
– Now take it all the way down
apart and really think about
– For inspiration, check out
to the very lowest note,
the words and sounds you
Articulation
different genres, musicians
again without straining.
are singing.
and composers at your
– Sing the line below 20 times
– You can also try the above
– Listen to yourself. Are you
local library, or at:
in a row. Focus on making
with a line from a song,
making a good sound?
bbc.co.uk/music
sure each letter and sound
raising or lowering the pitch
Are you in tune? Train your
is clear every time.
– And tune in to Elaine Paige
each time you repeat it.
ears as well as your vocal
on Sunday on BBC Radio 2
Have a go with:
“Ding dong! The witch is
muscles.
every Sunday from 1pm to
dead. Which old witch?
“Where troubles melt like
– Try improvising – use a line
sing along to songs from
The wicked witch!”
lemon drops.”
from a familiar song as a
the musicals.
starting point and play with
– For more singing tips, visit:
the notes and rhythm.
bbc.co.uk/sing
Try this:
Start with a note that’s comfortable for you and slowly go up
and down like a police siren throughout your vocal range, with
an “ng” sound. Breathe as slowly as possible, and snatch a
breath when you run out, trying to ensure an even, continuous
sound. Try different variations: with your lips buzzing together,
with your tongue trilling, or “ooh”ing.
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5

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What next?
Sing together
If you’re thinking of taking your singing to the next level,
Performing with others is a great way to build your
you may want to try singing lessons. There are also lots
confidence and improve your technique.
of online resources available to help you improve.
Look out for posters advertising local musical theatre
BBC Blast
Incorporated Society
groups and choirs in libraries, community centres,
bbc.co.uk/blast/music_audio
of Musicians
music shops, or in your local paper.
Top tips for budding young
www.ism.org
Useful contacts
The National Operatic
musicians.
Search for tutors vetted
by the Incorporated Society
British Choirs on the Net
and Dramatic Association
BBC Learning
of Musicians.
www.choirs.org.uk
www.noda.org.uk
bbc.co.uk/learning
Use the online map to find
Search over 2,000 choirs
Find courses in your area.
LEA Music Services
groups in your area.
around the UK.
BBC Radio 2
www.federationmusic.org.uk
Find your local music service.
Making Music
The National Youth
bbc.co.uk/radio2
www.makingmusic.org.uk
Music Theatre
Listen to Radio 2 sessions and
Sing Up
www.nymt.org.uk
Find a music group in
find upcoming events.
www.singup.org
Find out about musical theatre
your area.
Ideas and resources to get
workshops for young people.
BBC Radio 3
children singing.
Scottish Music Centre
bbc.co.uk/radio3
www.scottishmusic
Discover music, drama and
The Music Industries
centre.com/directory
events on Radio 3.
Association
Find music organisations,
BBC Sing
www.mia.org.uk
venues and choirs
bbc.co.uk/sing
Tips on how to choose a
based in Scotland.
music teacher and other
Free online downloads,
useful contacts.
singing tutorials and links to
other singing websites.
“ You don’t have to have lessons
to enjoy singing – grab some
friends for a sing-along to build
To make sure a tutor is right for you or your child, you should
your confidence.”
start with a telephone call to find out more about them. Do they
Jodie Prenger
specialise in a particular style of singing? Are they experienced
at teaching singers of your level? Can they supply references?
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“ You need to work hard on
your technique beforehand,
so that when it comes to the
performance, you don’t need
to think about it. Everything
should just come naturally,
The BBC Performing Groups
Funding musical talent
leaving you free to concentrate
The BBC Singers and the five
The BBC Performing Arts
on delivering the lyric.”
BBC orchestras perform around Fund is a charity dedicated
Charlotte Church
the UK throughout the year.
to supporting aspiring new
They also provide the musical
musical talent.
backbone to BBC events such
Previously called the Fame
as the BBC Proms.
Academy Bursary, the fund
You can listen to their concerts
was set up in 2003 to support
“ Keep an eye on your posture.
regularly on BBC Radio 3
potential talent through
It doesn’t matter if you are
and BBC Radio 2. They run fun,
different music schemes. The
singing to yourself in the mirror
free music activities for people
charity is funded by voting
at home or to an audience of
of all ages and musical abilities.
revenue from BBC shows
including
thousands, a good straight
Visit their websites for more
Over The Rainbow.
back and relaxed shoulders
information about the groups
Over £3 million has so far been
will make all the difference
and to find workshops, events
awarded for Musical Theatre,
and performances in your area:
Urban Music, Education
to your sound.”
bbc.co.uk/orchestras
Bursaries and Instrument and
John Partridge
bbc.co.uk/singers
Equipment Awards.
To find out more about the
“ When you sing, go to the
awards and how you can apply
centre of what you are doing,
for a bursary, visit:
think about the meaning of
bbc.co.uk/performingartsfund
the words rather than just
presenting a performance,
then it works.”
Sheila Hancock
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“Why then, oh why can’t I?”
It’s never too late to get into singing.
This guide gives tips and advice on how to get started.
With thanks to the BBC Singers,
Published by BBC Learning –
BBC Orchestras, Tim Steiner,
Room MC4 A5, 201 Wood Lane,
Andrew Lloyd Webber and the
London, W12 7TQ
Over The Rainbow team.
© BBC 2010
The BBC is not responsible for the
activity of external organisations or
Design: red-stone.com
the content of external websites.
Printed on 75% recycled paper
Free downloadable versions of this
guide are available in English and Welsh
at bbc.co.uk/dorothy

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