Cheryl Freeman: Tips for Learning to Sing Like Her

Cheryl Freeman is an American singer and actress known for her powerful vocals, emotional delivery, and range. She is famous for her role in The Who's Tommy and for her role as the singing voice of the benevolent character Mama Odie in Disney's The Princess and the Frog. In this article, we will give you some tips on how to learn singing like Cheryl Freeman, highlighting her unique vocal techniques and providing practical advice.

Voice Type and Range

Cheryl Freeman falls under the category of mezzo-soprano, but her range extends beyond that. She is known for having a powerful mid-range and a distinctive chest voice, which can deliver a punch that can captivate the audience. Her voice is full of character and confidence, which can make her performances stand out.

If you want to learn how to sing like Cheryl Freeman, first assess your vocal range with the Singing Carrots Vocal Range Test. Once you've determined your vocal range, find songs that suit your voice and style using the Singing Carrots Song Search tool.

Breathing and Warm-ups

Breathing is a crucial part of singing. For your voice to sound strong and supported, you need to develop proper breathing techniques. Cheryl Freeman uses the Farinelli breathing exercise, which involves inhaling through your nose for three seconds and exhaling through your pursed lips for six seconds. Practice this exercise to strengthen your diaphragm and improve your breathing skills.

Once you've done your breathing exercises, do some vocal warm-ups to prepare your instrument for singing. Some of the best warm-up exercises to do include humming and lip rolls. Watch Singing Carrots' 3-Minute Warm-up for some great warm-up ideas.

Vocal Techniques

Cheryl Freeman uses a variety of techniques to enhance her singing. Her unique vocal technique involves a mix of twang and belting, which makes her voice sound powerful and rich. Twang helps to add clarity and brightness to her voice, while belting gives her voice that extra punch.

To develop twang, practice the How to Twang Exercise from Singing Carrots. For belting, watch the Contemporary vocal techniques: Heavy modal, Twang, Belting article for tips and exercises.

Cheryl Freeman is also known for her use of vibrato, a technique that adds variation to the pitch of a note. Watch the Singing with Vibrato article for some great tips and exercises for using this technique.

Performance Tips

When performing, Cheryl Freeman uses her entire body to convey emotion and energy. She maintains an open mouth and throat, which allows her to deliver her voice effectively. Cheryl Freeman also has excellent posture, which helps her breathe efficiently and project her voice.

For tips on posture, check out How posture affects your singing article. To learn how to open your mouth and throat, watch the Open mouth & throat article. Finally, watch Tips for performing on stage for advice on how to relax and own the stage.

Unique Songs

If you're interested in Cheryl Freeman's unique vocal style, listen to her famous songs. She is known for her role in The Who's Tommy, where she sings "The Acid Queen" and "What About the Boy?". She also sings "Dig a Little Deeper" in Disney's The Princess and the Frog.

In conclusion, Cheryl Freeman has a unique vocal style that is memorable and inspiring. To learn how to sing like Cheryl Freeman, practice proper breathing techniques, use vibrato, develop an open mouth and throat, and practice twang and belting exercises. Once you feel confident, try singing some of Cheryl Freeman's songs. With practice and patience, you can improve your singing skills and become the next Cheryl Freeman.