Learning to Sing like Michel Legrand

Michel Legrand was a French musician, singer, and composer who made a significant contribution to music. If you want to learn his style of singing, you need to understand his vocal technique and the songs that showcase it. In this article, we will highlight some practical tips and Singing Carrots resources that can help you achieve this goal.

Michel Legrand's Unique Vocal Technique

Legrand's style of singing was like his approach to music - smooth and effortless. He had a way of blending different genres, such as jazz, pop, and classical music, into a seamless flow, making his voice sound mesmerizing. One of the unique aspects of his vocal technique was his use of vibrato. He used vibrato that was controlled and not too strong, giving his singing a warm, smooth texture.

Another defining aspect of Legrand's singing was his phrasing. He had an innate sense of syncopation, where he would elongate some notes and shorten others, giving his singing an unpredictable rhythmic flow. His phrasing was especially evident in jazz songs, where he would improvise on the melody, making the singing sound like a conversation between the singer and the instruments.

Songs that Showcase Michel Legrand's Style

Learning to sing like Michel Legrand requires studying some of his songs that showcase his unique vocal technique. Some of his most popular songs include "I Will Wait for You," "Windmills of Your Mind," "The Summer Knows," and "The Way He Makes Me Feel."

"I Will Wait for You" is an excellent example of Legrand's use of syncopation in his singing. The song has an unusual rhythmic structure, and Legrand's vocal phrasing accentuates this by emphasizing and elongating different parts of the melody.

Similarly, in "The Summer Knows," Legrand's voice has a warm, soothing texture that emphasizes the song's emotive lyrics.

Practical Advice for Learning Michel Legrand's Style

If you want to learn to sing like Michel Legrand, here are some practical tips to keep in mind.

• Focus on your vibrato: One of the defining aspects of Legrand's singing was his use of vibrato. Practice using your vibrato in a controlled, subtle way to achieve a warm and smooth vocal texture.
• Master syncopation: Legrand was a master of syncopation, a technique where the singer stretches or shortens notes to create a rhythmic flow. Study his approach to syncopation and practice it in your singing.
• Work on your phrasing: Legrand was known for his expressive phrasing, especially in jazz songs. Work on developing your phrasing skills, emphasizing different parts of the melody to give your singing a conversational flow.
• Explore Singing Carrots Resources: Singing Carrots offers various tools that can help you improve your singing technique, such as the vocal range test, pitch accuracy test, vocal pitch monitor, pitch training game, song search, artist vocal ranges, singing course, warm-up exercises, and posture tips. Incorporate these resources into your practice routine to improve your singing.

Conclusion

Michel Legrand's style of singing was unique and mesmerizing, characterized by his emotive phrasing, warm vibrato, and creative use of syncopation. To learn his style of singing, study his unique vocal technique and practice it using his popular songs as examples. The Singing Carrots resources can also help you improve your singing technique further. Good luck on your journey to learn singing like Michel Legrand!