Evelyn Laye: Learning to Sing Like the Greats

Evelyn Laye was a British singer, actress, and dancer. She was known for her sweet, delicate voice and her ability to convey deep emotions through song. She was also admired for her graceful, effortless dancing. In this article, we will explore how to learn to sing like Evelyn Laye, highlighting her unique vocal techniques and suggesting songs that showcase them.

Vocal Technique

One of the most distinctive features of Evelyn Laye's singing was her use of vibrato. She had a natural, gentle vibrato that added a rich, warm quality to her voice. To emulate her vibrato, try to relax your throat as much as possible while singing. This will allow your vocal cords to vibrate more freely, creating a natural vibrato. You can also practice adding vibrato to sustained notes by pulsing the pitch slightly up and down with your diaphragm.

Another technique that Evelyn Laye mastered was the use of dynamics. She was able to effortlessly transition from soft, delicate singing to powerful, emotive belting. To achieve this, practice singing the same phrase multiple times, each time increasing the volume and intensity. Pay close attention to your breathing and posture to help convey the emotions behind each lyric.

Song Suggestions

Evelyn Laye sang many classic songs of her time, each showcasing her unique vocal style and technique. Here are a few of our favorites:

• "A Room with a View": This song, from the musical "This Year of Grace," is a perfect showcase for Evelyn Laye's vibrato. With its lilting melody and sweet lyrics, it's a great song to practice adding vibrato to sustained notes.
• "London Pride": This patriotic song is a great example of Evelyn Laye's ability to convey deep emotions through song. Pay attention to how she varies her dynamics throughout the song, from soft and tender to bold and triumphant.
• "Someday I'll Find You": Another song from "This Year of Grace," this one showcases Evelyn Laye's ability to convey romantic longing through song. Practice using your vibrato to add warmth and depth to the song's emotional lyrics.

Singing Carrots Resources

To further enhance your singing skills, be sure to check out some of Singing Carrots' resources:

• Use the Vocal range test to determine your vocal range and compare it to other famous singers.
• Try the Pitch accuracy test to assess your pitch accuracy and determine which areas you need to work on.
• Check out the Vocal Pitch monitor to see your sung notes on a virtual piano and help you stay on pitch.
• Use the Pitch Training exercises to improve your vocal range, agility, and pitch accuracy.
• Search for songs matching your vocal range, difficulty, and genre preference on the Song search tool.
• Discover the vocal ranges of over 5000 famous singers on the Artist vocal ranges tool.
• Create your performance set using the Song-book tool, which provides linked lyrics, sheet music, chords, karaoke, and YouTube audio.
• Monitor your singing improvement with the Progress statistics tool.
• Take the Singing course, a 21-lesson program covering singing theory and practical tips.

I hope this article helps you learn to sing like Evelyn Laye and improve your vocal skills. With practice and dedication, you can develop your own unique voice while still paying homage to the greats who came before you.