Learning to sing like a legendary singer is an exciting opportunity for any vocalist. In this article, we will focus on how to sing like My Maryland, a renowned African American contralto vocalist that had a powerful voice, excellent technique, and a unique singing style that left an indelible mark on the music industry. By the end of this article, you will have learned how to sing like My Maryland - her vocal technique, how to achieve her tone, and how to replicate her performances using Singing Carrots resources.

My Maryland was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1899, and became one of the most influential African American contralto singers of the 20th century. Her vocal timbre stood out owing to its rich, warm tone, and her ability to convey deep emotions through her interpretations of spirituals, blues, and jazz tunes. To achieve My Maryland's vocal style, you need to focus on the following areas:

• Discovering your vocal range: Knowing your vocal range is essential when learning to sing like My Maryland. Her voice type is contralto, which means that her voice had a lower range than the typical female singing voice. To determine your vocal range, take Singing Carrots' vocal range test. This test will ask you to sing a few notes to determine your highest and lowest notes and compare your voice to those of other famous singers.

• Breath control: Breathing control is the utmost essential in singing, and it is a vital component in My Maryland's vocal technique. Learn how to develop breathing techniques using Singing Carrots' breathing basics article, which covers passive and active breathing techniques to use when singing. Also, try the Farinelli breathing exercise video to help train your diaphragm to control your breathing.

• Vocal registers and ranges: My Maryland's voice spanned over three octaves. It is crucial to understand the different vocal registers to sing like her. Refer to Singing Carrots' voice registers and vocal break article to learn about the different vocal registers and how to transition between them for a seamless performance.

• Open mouth and throat: My Maryland often sang with an open mouth and throat to help deliver powerful, resonant notes. To achieve this, Singing Carrots' article on Why to Open Mouth and Throat While Singing is an invaluable resource that teaches you why this is important. The Soft Palate and Stop Sounding Nasal YouTube videos offer practical exercises on how to open your throat, while the Singing Comfort Zone and Chest Voice Explained videos focus on helping you achieve a fuller chest voice.

• Song selection: My Maryland's repertoire included spirituals, blues, and jazz tunes that allowed her to showcase her unique vocal style. Search through Singing Carrots' Songbook to find tracks that match your vocal range. You can filter songs based on vocal range, difficulty levels, and genre preferences.

In conclusion, learning how to sing like My Maryland requires dedication, practice, and an understanding of her unique vocal style. Use the resources provided by Singing Carrots, and don't forget to experiment and have fun while learning to find your own voice. With My Maryland as your guide, you are one step closer to becoming a more accomplished singer.