Singing Guide: Assassins
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Assassins is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by John Weidman, based on an idea from Charles Gilbert Jr. It tells the story of nine people who killed or tried to kill U.S. Presidents throughout history, and their interactions with one another in a seedy hotel.
To learn how to sing like the performers in Assassins, there are a few techniques you will need to practice.
One of the key techniques used in the musical is the mixing of the voice registers. This is often used to create a specific vocal tone. Vocal registers are ranges of tones that are produced in a specific way with the vocal cords. In Assassins, the mixing of registers helps to create a unique sound, which can be heard in songs like "The Ballad of Booth" and "Unworthy of Your Love".
Another important technique in Assassins is vibrato. Vibrato is a very subtle variation of pitch caused by slight fluctuations in the voice. It is often used in musical theater to convey emotion or to add interest to a long note. To sing like the performers in Assassins, you will need to focus on developing your vibrato and learn to control it so that it can be used effectively.
To achieve these techniques, you can use Singing Carrots resources such as:
- Pitch Training - Educational Singing Game, which includes exercises for range and agility
- Vocal Pitch Monitor, which helps you see your sung notes on a virtual piano
- Free Vocal Range Test, which will help you determine your vocal range and compare it to that of famous singers
Additionally, you can use Singing Carrots articles such as those on:
- Breath support
- Classical vs pop/jazz singing
- Vibrato
- Resonance in singing
- Vocal health
- Posture
- How to find your own authentic voice
The Twang exercise and Growling exercise videos can also be useful for learning how to achieve the unique sounds heard in Assassins. By incorporating these practical tips and Singing Carrots resources, you can learn to sing like the performers in Assassins, using techniques such as mixing registers and vibrato to convey emotion and create a unique sound.