Learning “Build a Wall” from Shrek: The Musical
“Build a Wall” is one of the notable songs from Shrek: The Musical. This song features powerful vocals and emotional deliverance which flag it as a challenging yet rewarding piece for singers.
Vocal Technique: Belt
The primary vocal technique featured in this song is “belting”. Belting involves powerful, well-supported singing through the passaggio into the singer’s head register, giving an impression of increased volume and intensity. It is a popular technique in musical theatre and some famous examples include “Defying Gravity” from Wicked and “Let it Go” from Frozen. Practice safe belting techniques to prevent vocal strain or injury.
Learning Steps
- Step 1: Vocal Range – Determine your vocal range by taking the Vocal range test. This will help to establish if the song is comfortable for your voice or if transposition is needed.
- Step 2: Analysis – Listen to the song multiple times and practice singing along to grasp the melody. Use our Vocal Pitch Monitor to ensure you’re hitting the right notes.
- Step 3: Phrase by Phrase – Break the song down into phrases and focus on one at a time, paying close attention to the tone, pitch, and rhythm. This method is elaborated in our article on how to learn a song effectively.
- Step 4: Belting – Begin belting practice gradually. Start with a comfortable volume and pitch then slowly increase using correct breath support and open throat technique.
- Step 5: Emotional Deliverance – Try to connect with the song emotionally and convey that through your performance. Check out our piece on singing with emotion.
- Step 6: Practice – Repeat and rehearse, using Pitch Training to improve your pitch accuracy. Keep tabs on your progress.
Note: Always warm up before singing and take care of your vocal health. Consider our articles on vocal health and authentic voice.