Singing Guide: Matt Monro
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Matt Monro, born Terence Edward Parsons, was an English singer known for his smooth baritone voice. He recorded many songs that became classics, including "Born Free," "From Russia With Love," and "Portrait Of My Love." Learning to sing like Matt Monro means understanding his unique vocal technique and the songs that showcase it. Here are some practical tips and exercises to help you sing like Matt Monro.
- Listen to his songs
- Improve your breath support
- Experiment with Vibrato
- Use your voice registers
- Find your range
- Warm-up with singing games and exercises
- Use Singing Carrots resources
The best way to learn to sing like Matt Monro is to listen to his songs. As you listen, pay attention to his vocal technique. Note how he phrases his lyrics, his use of vibrato, and his control of dynamics. Some of his classic songs to check out include "Born Free," "Softly As I Leave You," and "Portrait Of My Love."
A key element of Matt Monro's vocal technique is his breath control. To improve your breath support, check out Singing Carrots' resources on breathing basics and breath support. Incorporate breathing exercises into your daily vocal warm-up routine and focus on your breathing during song practice.
Matt Monro's use of vibrato is another one of his signature techniques. While vibrato is a natural part of singing for some, others may have to work at it. Singing Carrots offers an insightful post on creating and improving vibrato. Include vibrato exercises in your daily vocal practice.
Matt Monro was known for his versatile use of his voice registers, from his lower chest voice to his upper head voice. Improve your understanding of voice registers through Singing Carrots' resources made this topic comprehensible for novice and experienced singers. Practice to your chest and head voice songs which in Monro's repertoire include "Softly As I Leave You" and "Never on Sunday."
Knowing your vocal range is important in finding the right songs and keys for your voice. Singing Carrots offers an easy test to find vocal range and comparing it with famous singers, which is not only helpful for choosing the right songs but also improves understanding of different singing styles.
Especially for novice or less experienced singers, warming up can be challenging. Singing Carrots offers a broad range of singing games and exercises to make warming up fun and effective. The 'Farinelli' breathing exercise is a perfect example, offering a unique and beautiful take on breathing exercises which can be easily incorporated into your routine.
Singing Carrots also has resources dedicated to specific vocal techniques and topics such as "Resonance in Singing" and "Avoiding Constrictions." Use these resources to supplement your technical learning and better understand the context of techniques Matt Monro used in his singing.
In conclusion, learning to sing like Matt Monro takes practice, focus, and a deep understanding of his vocal techniques. Through listening to his songs, working on your breathing and vibrato, experimenting with different voice registers, warm-ups, and practicing with Singing Carrots resources, you can enhance your singing skills and perform like the legendary baritone.