How to Sing Like Cy Coleman: Tips and Resources

If you're a fan of Cy Coleman's music and want to learn how to sing like him, you're in luck! Coleman had a unique vocal technique and a distinctive style that made him one of the most celebrated songwriters of his time. In this article, we'll explore how you can learn to sing like Cy Coleman and showcase some of his best songs.

Vocal Technique

Coleman's vocal technique was characterized by his ability to capture the essence of the song lyric and infuse it with emotion and feeling. He also had a distinctive phrasing style that was both musical and conversational. If you want to learn to sing like Coleman, here are some tips:

1. Analyze your voice - Understanding your voice is the first step to improving it. Check out Singing Carrots' guide on how to analyze your voice and identify areas for improvement.
2. Breathing Techniques - Coleman's breath control was exceptional and allowed him to sustain long phrases without losing pitch or tone. Check out Singing Carrots' breathing basics, breath support and sustain vocal exercises to improve your breath control.
3. Voice Registers - Coleman was known for his ability to switch between voice registers effortlessly. Check out Singing Carrots' articles on voice registers and vocal break and chest voice explained to understand voice registers.
4. Articulation and Emotion - Coleman's vocal style was heavily influenced by his ability to articulate the lyrics and infuse it with emotion. Check out Singing Carrots' articles on articulation and singing with intuition, skills, emotion, and thinking to improve your articulation and emotional delivery.

Songs to Practice Cy Coleman's Vocal Style

Coleman is best known for his contributions to musical theater and jazz. Here are some of his best songs to practice his vocal style:

1. Witchcraft - This jazzy standard is a perfect showcase of Coleman's phrasing and vocal control.
2. The Best Is Yet to Come - This song was made famous by Frank Sinatra and features a catchy melody and a swinging rhythm.
3. Big Spender - This classic tune from "Sweet Charity" is a great example of Coleman's ability to mix theater and jazz.
4. Hey, Look Me Over - This upbeat number from "Wildcat" features a catchy melody and a playful vocal delivery.
5. It Amazes Me - This ballad is a showcase for Coleman's emotional delivery and vocal range.

Singing Carrots Resources

Singing Carrots has a wide range of resources to help you learn to sing like Cy Coleman. Here are some resources to check out:

1. Vocal range test: Determine your vocal range and compare it to famous singers using the vocal range test.
2. Pitch accuracy test: Assess your pitch accuracy with simple melodies using the pitch accuracy test.
3. Vocal Pitch Monitor: Visualize your sung notes on a virtual piano using the Vocal Pitch Monitor.
4. Pitch Training: Improve your warm-up with interactive vocal warm-ups, pitch visualizer exercises for range and agility. Learn more.
5. Song search: Find songs for practice using the song search tool that matches your vocal range, difficulty, and genre preference.
6. Artist vocal lessons: Take an educational singing course to improve your vocal skills with expert instructors. Check out educational singing course.