Singing Guide: Motown: The Musical
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Motown: The Musical is a celebration of the legendary Motown sound that took American popular music by storm. Motown became known for its catchy beats, soulful melodies, and inspiring lyrics that spoke to people across the country. The man behind the Motown sound was Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records.
For aspiring singers looking to learn the Motown sound, the first step is to understand the fundamentals of soul music. At the heart of soul music is passion and emotion, so it is essential to focus on singing with feeling. To capture that Motown sound, it is necessary to aim for a smooth and polished vocal delivery with a lot of power behind it.
To develop this style, it is essential to practice a lot and listen to the music of the Motown greats. Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder are all good examples to start with. Explore their discography and pay close attention to their vocal techniques. One common feature of Motown is the use of melodious phrases with soulful inflections.
To master the Motown sound, it is essential to keep your voice supple and relaxed. Focus on achieving a pure, straight tone with as little vibrato as possible. Motown is known for its tight harmonies. To achieve this, practice singing with others and listening closely to your voice's timbre and pitch as you sing together.
In addition to the technical aspects of singing, many articles on Singing Carrots offer advice about taking care of your voice and sustaining it for the long run, such as proper breathing and microphone technique. The Farinelli breathing and humming exercises are also helpful for achieving a more resonant quality to your voice.
To further your studies of the Motown sound, Singing Carrots has plenty of tools and resources at your disposal. Use the vocal range test and pitch accuracy test to assess your current abilities and get a sense of where you need to focus your efforts. The pitch training game is also an excellent tool for developing your pitch and range.
Finally, to more easily search for songs that best match your vocal range and preferences, be sure to check out Singing Carrots' song search. You'll find plenty of Motown classics to choose from!
Learning the Motown sound takes time and dedication, but with the right attitude, plenty of practice, and the right resources, you can develop a soulful and powerful style that will win over audiences. Good luck on your journey!