Singing? Where do I go from here?

Question

Is it true that it's hard to become a famous soprano?

Like, I know there are many of us out there, but really can I make a living out of it? And is it worth pursuing, because darn it I love to sing! I'm 13 right now, and have a wonderful teacher.

I did my grade 6 music exam last year and did well, and I've done a couple of gigs, and been in a few shows? Is there anything that's imperitive to being successful, besides studying a lot.

Yes, I do play piano, at a grade 3 leval, and I'm doing my grade 1 theory. Anything else that I'm missing a step in the puzzle? I'm thinking about getting a business card together?

Is this to rushed or should I wait until I'm older?

Thanks for all your help!
Karina

oh by the way I like to sing classical, opera.

Thanks for your good suggestions.. I actually do have private voice lessons and I found my voice teacher on the NATS website..

Thanks! And I love listening to Opera, however I'm still looking for a soprano that I love to listen to? I like Rene Flemming, but everyone does, does anyone have a favorite opera singer they'dd like to share with me?

Thanks for everyone's truly amazing advice!
Yes, I am also a dancer and I have years of acting training and experience, well I guess in my case is 4 years, I'm also involved in many shows year round and find myself a little on the too busy side but I love it!

I don't think I can pick my favorite answer I'm going to let you guys do that. I'm not going to decide because I think each answer was well thought out and well given.

Thanks!
karina

Answer 1

american idol dog, yo dog you should go to american idol with paula and randy and simeon.

thats wat im takin bout dog..


bty, that randy jackson talking

Answer 2

I sang Opera professionally for many years before recently retiring. Although, I am still relatively young (well into my 40s), I can tell you it was the greatest thing I have done with the exception of my two daughters.

Singing Opera takes everything you have, your heart, your soul and then some but the experience of singing in a 4000 seat opera house with a 80 piece orchestra and hearing the roar of the crowd after singing the greatest music that the world has to offer is something you will take with you in the afterlife. It is worth giving up everything!

You must be a very well-trained and educated musician. You must know and understand several languages including:
Italian, German, French, Latin, Russian

At 13 years old, you have a lot of time ahead of you and you are doing the right things but you need to understand that you probably have a good 15 years before you will be ready. First you will need to attend a university that has a good music program and specialized in Opera. After your undergraduate program, I suggest your masters degree. Then you will need to audition for a young artists program at one of the larger opera houses like Chicago, San Francisco and New York or other major city. If you make it to a young artists program, then you really have a shot !

Keep learning music, study, read the stories associated with the opera, read about the composers, learn all the characters in the stories and what type of people they are. And, remember that their are thousands of opera singers in the world singing every week and making a life for themselves and the music.

One of my favorite professors who was also a Heldentenor with the Berlin Opera said "It's the pursuit of excellence that drives us to be on that stage again and again....noone is ever always perfect".

I suggest going to live performances if you can. Places like the San Francisco Opera offer very inexpensive standing only tickets for as little as $10 to see the worlds best Opera Singers live....

Also don't just listen to Soprano's, listen to all the voices from Basso Profundo's to Dramatic Mezzo's to Coloratura Sopranos. They each have something special to share with the listener and the student. Listen to both voices of the Golden Era and today's voices.... here are some very special voices:

George London, Bass-baritone (Heldenbaritone)
Jussi Bjorling, Tenor
Joan Sutherland, Soprano
Montserrat Caballe, Soprano
Samuel Ramey, Coloratura Bass
Maria Callas, Soprano
Sherrill Milnes, Verdi Baritone
Placido Domingo, Dramatic Tenor
Luciano Pavarotti, Tenor
Bryn Terfel, Baritone
Dolora Zajick, Dramatic Mezzo
Marilyn Horne, Mezzo
Ruth Swenson, Soprano
and there are many others.....

There are a lot of Opera CD's that have these singers. Listen and learn....

Break a Leg!

Answer 3

To learn quickly how to sing I suggest to follow a good online course. here is the best course that I did :

http://www.goobypls.com/r/rd.asp?gid=541

I can help you with jus some advidce but anyway I reccomend to follow that course. I think that singing is an inbuilt part of the human mind and soul. For countless years the act of singing has been at the forefront of art, religion, social changes and of course love. We all have a desire to let flow with a burst of air and noise that lifts the soul and transports an emotive message be it from the screaming energetic rock anthem to the operatic tones of more studied precise singers. We are not all born with a natural talent though but with practice anyone can take their instinctual desire to sing and become very good at it. Here are some tips for a better singing voice that can help you professionally, at the karaoke bar or even in the shower for your own enjoyment! One mistake many singers make is to hold their breath while singing instead of letting the air flow through them. If you hold your breath tight you can never achieve a natural sound nor will you be able to achieve any great volume and it makes hitting the right tone harder as well. To combat this you must learn diaphragmatic breathing. This means you must breathe in to the lower part of your lungs by breathing deep and not shallow. This is not the same as belly breathing but should press out on your lower ribcage as you breathe in. There are many breathing exercises you can learn to help you achieve this such as lying down and placing a hand on the upper chest and a hand on the lower chest under the ribcage. When you breathe in the hand on the upper chest should not move and the hand on the lower chest should go up and down. Mirrors are great devices to help you improve your singing voice. By singing in front of a mirror you can watch your posture, your facial contortions and your breathing and determine what is and is not working. Try changing your posture and the way you use your face and mouth when you sing in front of a mirror and listen to the different sounds you make as you experiment. You will be surprised what straightening your back or opening your mouth wider can do to your voice once you see these things in the mirror.

I hope that the website I suggested could help you!

Answer 4

I'm not sure what you mean by "famous soprano". Yes, you can make a living doing what you love. Even if you aren't the most famous opera singer in the world you can be happy performing at some level.

If you mean classical (opera) performing I would strongly suggest you immediately find the very best instructor - one who has successfully coached performers to the highest levels. If the first one doesn't believe in you get a second or even third opinion as long as each one is a reputable, experienced instructor. (There are many who will gladly give you lessons forever if you're willing to pay even if you aren't really an "opera" level singer.)

If you mean "famous" as any kind of singer that may not be as critical and lots of experience and many instructors might be a better path.

Whichever you intend, make sure that your studies include reading music on sight (sight singing), interval recognition, and singing intervals and scales in ALL keys and multiple genres. Avoid instructors who use simplified music that is only in the "easy" keys (C, F, G) and those who are not teaching you all aspects of music.

I wasn't exposed to a really great teacher (in my case piano) until college. It would have made an enormous difference in my music abilities even now to have studied with him much earlier.

Here is the "tricky" part. Many people have given up on their dreams because someone told them they weren't good enough. Others have continued toward their dream in spite of such advice and become famous.

Listen to your heart. Don't let anyone talk you out of your dream if you're positive it really IS your dream. Being "famous" is probably not a great goal. Doing what you love and enjoy is.

Answer 5

Becoming a professional singer is difficult. If it is something you truly love, though, hang in there. It sounds like you are preparing yourself well (piano & theory). These things will help you become a stronger musician. Realize that most classical singers have gone to college to study music. They usually have a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Vocal Performance at the least; many have a Doctorate in Vocal Performance these days. So, I would say, keep working, and keep your options open. If you and your teacher think you are ready for performing gigs, then by all means go ahead and start advertising yourself. Make sure, however, that at your age you don't push and strain your voice. Your voice still has a tremendous amount of growing and changing to do. Depending on what your voice type is (There are many different kinds of sopranos) your voice quality may change dramatically over the next 8-10 years. Getting used to performing in public is invaluable, but I don't think it is necessary to perform at a young age in order to become a professional classical singer.

The one thing that is imperative to being successful is practice. Lots and lots of practice. I think you also have to develop a thick skin. People who audition for classical singing roles get told "no" A LOT! A book I would recommend reading is Renee Fleming's "The Inner Voice." This really describes her struggle to develop her voice and become a famous singer and it doesn't candy coat anything.

My favorite soprano is probably Barbara Bonney. She has a light lyric voice. I also really enjoy Dawn Upshaw. Both of these sopranos are on the lighter side.

Best of luck to you!! I think it is wonderful that you love to sing so much.

PS: Acting classes and movement classes are invaluable to people who want to be on stage!! Even opera singers!!

Answer 6

We have a saying, "God must love sopranos because he makes so many."

That being said, you are still very young. Of course it is POSSIBLE to make a living singing, but it is an extremely competitive field.

It is good that you are getting piano lessons. You are at the age when you should start thinking about getting private voice lessons. I recommend this website to find a voice teacher.

Answer 7

Sing of good things not bad, sing of happy not sad. Sing, Sing a song, sing it simple to last the whole night long. Don't worry if its not good enough for anyone else to hear, just sing, sing a song.

Answer 8

My teacher said that if you want to be in opera, you must start working towards that before you're 17. I would suggest listening to lots of music of the type you want to sing and try to think about what the singer is doing and how to do that. Get in as many choirs, etc. as you can. Most of all, think that you can and picture in your mind doing what you want to do.

Answer 9

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