Singing Guide: Barbara Rothstein
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Barbara Acklin is one of the most prominent artists and songwriters whose contributions to soul music in the 1960s and 1970s have remained significant to this day.
Barbara Acklin's style was marked by her ability to convey complex emotions through her voice. That's why she was dubbed "the Queen of Steam" by songwriting partner Eugene Record. One of her signature techniques was her use of background vocals to create a chorus effect, which can be heard on one of her most famous hits, "Love Makes a Woman."
If you want to learn how to sing like Barbara Acklin, there are several practical steps you can take, as well as resources you can use from Singing Carrots:
- Start by analyzing your own voice to determine your natural vocal range and voice type. Use the Singing Carrots Vocal Range Test, so that you can choose songs that are within your range.
- Listen to Barbara Acklin's music and study her unique vocal technique. Make note of her use of background vocals, vocal expression, and the ways she conveys emotion in her songs. This will allow you to practice and imitate her style.
- Work on your breathing. Proper breath support is essential to achieving a soulful sound like Barbara Acklin's. Review Singing Carrots' tips on breathing basics and breath support.
- Warm up your voice with the Singing Carrots Farinelli Breathing On Your Own exercise for breath control.
- Work on your pronunciation and articulation. Proper articulation is key to conveying the lyrics of a song and expressing an emotion convincingly. Use Singing Carrots' finger bite exercise and articulation resource.
- Experiment with different vocal registers and voice breaks, which are essential techniques in soul music. Use Singing Carrots' Resource on voice registers and vocal break, as well as mixed voice and chest voice techniques. Work on different onsets and offsets of singing, as well as nasality and resonance.
- Sing along with Barbara Acklin's music and other songs that share similar qualities to acquire a feel for performing in the genre. Use Singing Carrots Song Search to find songs that match your vocal range and genre preference.
- Practice regularly, so that you can develop muscle memory and build confidence. Also track your progress by use of Singing Carrots Progress Statistics.
- Sign up for Singing Carrots singing course for a comprehensive program covering all the relevant theory and practical tips regarding singing.
By working through these steps, you can learn to emulate the style of Barbara Acklin and develop your own unique vocal technique.