Mary Hopkin is a Welsh folk singer who rose to prominence in the 1960s with her songs 'Those Were The Days' and 'Goodbye'. With her velvety, yet pure voice, she has become an inspiration to many aspiring artists. In this article, we will examine Hopkin's unique vocal technique and suggest some practical advice on how to learn singing like her.

One of the standout features of Hopkin's singing is her breathy and silky sound. To achieve this vocal quality, breath control is essential. Focus on breathing from the diaphragm, as well as engaging the abdominal muscles to support the sound you produce. You can find helpful advice on this in the Singing Carrots article on breath support.

A key feature of Hopkin's singing style is her use of vibrato, which gives her voice a warm, musical quality. Practicing your vibrato can help you achieve a similar sound, and the Beggars Bounce exercise is an excellent place to start. The accompanying article on singing with vibrato provides more information on incorporating vibrato into your singing.

Another feature of Hopkin's singing is her use of dynamics. She moves smoothly from full-voiced singing to quieter, more delicate phrases. To achieve this, you need to use your diaphragm, as discussed in the breath support article. Additionally, the chest voice exercise in the Singing Carrots article on voice registers and vocal breaks can help you develop control over the middle range of your voice, where dynamics play a significant role.

When it comes to Hopkin's choice of songs, she often selects folk songs that have a story to tell. 'Those Were The Days' is a classic example, and by choosing songs like this for your own practice, you can work on your storytelling ability and create an emotional connection with your audience. Singing Carrots' article on how to learn a song effectively can help you develop your skills in this area.

Finally, recording yourself and listening back can make a significant difference in honing your sound and improving your overall performance. The Singing Carrots pitch accuracy test and vocal pitch monitor are valuable tools for this purpose.

In conclusion, Mary Hopkin's singing style is characterized by a delicate, emotional quality, and to learn singing like her, you need to focus on breath control, vibrato, dynamics, and storytelling. By practicing these skills, incorporating Hopkin's techniques and her choice of songs into your practice, and using resources like those provided by Singing Carrots, you can develop your singing and become an accomplished artist yourself.