Singing Guide: March of the Falsettos
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
March of the Falsettos has a unique singing style. The singer William Finn won multiple awards for his musical theatre compositions, and this one is special in that it focuses on the upper register, specifically the falsetto.
To learn to sing like William Finn, start by establishing your voice's range. Singing Carrots offers a vocal range test that will help you identify your lower and upper limits. Knowing your vocal range is essential when aiming to match songs to your abilities.
Once you have established your range, you can begin exploring the upper register. Vocal training becomes more complex when you extend into the falsetto register, so it is important to take the time needed here. As a rule, always be careful not to strain your voice. If you are unsure about what exercises are best for you, the pitch training section is a great resource for developing your skills in a gentle, intuitive way that's right for you.
At the beginning of William Finn's song "Trina's Song," the use of the falsetto voice is striking. Try humming this melody several times before moving to the lyrics. Eventually, you will get a sense of how William Finn creates unique phrases and breaks into falsetto. Singing with intuition, skills, emotion, and thinking is an essential article to read. Once you establish your preferred style, engage in deliberate practice for a better chance of improvement.
For many aspiring William Finn imitators, the greatest challenge is hitting high notes comfortably and consistently. In an excellent article about breath support, you can find out how proper breathing technique is critical to singing high and building falsetto.
Overall, finding your unique William Finn voice requires dedication and a few essential skills. But with pitch training, vocal range test, and knowledge of the basics like breathing and voice registers, you'll definitely be on the right track!