Singing Guide: Barbara Cook
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Barbara Cook was an American singer and actress, known for her beautiful and versatile soprano voice and for her work in musical theatre. Her voice was unique, and she was one of the most influential Broadway and cabaret singers of the twentieth century.
Barbara Cook's unique vocal technique was marked by her clear, open, and ringing tone, and her ability to sustain long notes with perfect intonation. She was also known for her impressive vocal range, which allowed her to sing both high soprano and alto notes with equal ease. Barbara Cook's singing was marked by her ability to convey deep emotion and her exceptional interpretive skills. She had a gift for capturing the essence of a song and making it her own.
If you want to learn how to sing like Barbara Cook, the best place to start is by analyzing your own voice. Taking Singing Carrots vocal range test will help you to determine your voice type and your strengths and weaknesses as a singer. Barbara Cook was a soprano, so if you have a high-pitched voice, focusing on developing your upper range would be a good starting point.
To learn to sing like Barbara Cook, it is important to learn the basics of breathing for singing, as breath control is essential to sustain long notes, and to manage vibrato control. A good place to start is with the blog article on "Breath support" and "Breathing basics" found on Singing Carrots resources page. Remember to first warm up with some basic vocal exercises. Twang exercise and mixed voice would be the best to adopt Barbara's vocal style, and you can find more detailed exercises on the Singing Carrots' skill-related videos sections.
Another crucial aspect of learning to sing like Barbara Cook is songs' selection. Some of the songs that showcase her unique vocal technique include "Till There Was You," "Ice Cream," and "Vanilla Ice Cream." Singing Carrots' songbook is one of the best resources to find songs matching your vocal range, difficulty, and genre preference.
In addition to these practical tips, it is essential to familiarize yourself with different vocal registers and learn how to switch between them smoothly to improve the dynamic range. Voice register and vocal break are explained in this article . Articulation and vibrato techniques are two other areas to focus on to learn to sing like Barbara Cook. A good place to start is with this article on Singing Carrots.
Finally, a singing course will help you to get a more in-depth understanding of singing theory and gain a stronger foundation for your singing techniques. The educational singing course at Singing Carrots provides 21-lesson program covering singing theory and practical tips that will benefit you in the long run.
In conclusion, learning to sing like Barbara Cook involves analyzing your voice, improving your breathing and articulation techniques, focusing on appropriate vocal registers, training, and practice with Singing Carrots resources. With her unique vocal technique and her extensive experience, Barbara Cook offers a great example of a perfect singer to follow.