How to Learn “Before the Parade Passes By” from Hello Dolly!

Learning a new song can be an exciting and rewarding experience for any singer. In this article, we will guide you through the process of learning the song “Before the Parade Passes By” from the musical Hello Dolly! We’ll explore the unique vocal technique used in the song, provide practical advice, and recommend relevant resources from Singing Carrots to help you along the way.

The Unique Vocal Technique: Belting

“Before the Parade Passes By” is a powerful and energetic song that showcases the vocal technique known as belting. Belting is characterized by singing with a strong, full, and resonant voice in the higher register. It requires good breath support, control, and an open throat. The goal is to produce a powerful and emotive sound that can be heard over a large orchestra and in a large theater.

Practical Tips for Learning the Song

1. Start with Vocal Warm-ups: Before diving into the song, it’s crucial to warm up your voice. Singing Carrots’ Pitch Training offers interactive vocal warm-ups and exercises specifically designed to prepare your voice for singing.
2. Listen to the Original Recording: Familiarize yourself with the song by listening to the original cast recording or a notable rendition of “Before the Parade Passes By.” Pay attention to the nuances in the vocal performance and the overall energy of the song.
3. Analyze the Song Structure and Lyrics: Break down the song into sections and study the lyrics. Understand the story the song tells and the emotions it conveys. Singing Carrots’ article on how to analyze your voice will provide you with valuable insights on interpreting the lyrics and connecting with the song on a deeper level.
4. Breathing Technique: Since belting requires good breath support, practice breathing exercises to strengthen your diaphragm and improve breath control. Singing Carrots’ article on breath support will guide you through the basics of proper breathing for singing.
5. Work on Vocal Placement and Open Throat: Belting relies on an open mouth and throat to achieve resonance. Singing Carrots’ article on open mouth and throat explains the importance of these aspects and provides exercises to help you achieve them.
6. Use the Vocal Pitch Monitor: Singing Carrots’ Vocal Pitch Monitor tool will help you visualize your sung notes on a virtual piano. It can be a valuable tool to assess your pitch accuracy and improve your performance.
7. Practice, Practice, Practice: Repetition is key to mastering any song. Break the song into smaller sections and practice each section separately. Singing Carrots’ article on how to learn a song effectively provides useful techniques and practice strategies to enhance your learning process.

Relevant Singing Carrots Resources

• Search songs by vocal range: Use Singing Carrots’ song search feature to find songs that match your vocal range, difficulty level, and genre preference. It can help you discover similar songs to “Before the Parade Passes By” that showcase belting.
• Pitch Training – Educational Singing Game: This interactive vocal training program includes exercises and warm-ups specifically designed to improve your range, agility, and pitch accuracy. It’s an excellent resource to develop and enhance your belting technique.
• Vocal ranges of famous singers: Explore Singing Carrots’ database of vocal ranges of over 5000 famous singers. Analyzing the vocal ranges of other artists who utilize belting can give you a deeper understanding of the technique and inspire you.