Learning to Sing Like Natalie MacMaster

Are you a lover of Celtic music? Do you enjoy listening to the beautiful harmonies and melodies of traditional Scottish and Irish tunes? One of the most celebrated and accomplished performers of this genre is Natalie MacMaster. MacMaster is a renowned Canadian fiddler and step dancer with a voice that is both expressive and hauntingly beautiful. In this guide, we'll explore what makes her unique and give you tips on how to learn to sing like her.

Vocal Technique of Natalie MacMaster

When it comes to singing like MacMaster, her unique vocal technique is what sets her apart. Her voice has a warm and gentle tone, with a distinctive Scottish accent that adds to the charm of her performance. She often uses vocal ornamentation, such as trills, turns, and grace notes, to add character to her singing. To embody the style of MacMaster, focus on the following techniques:

Pronunciation:

To achieve MacMaster’s Scottish accent, make sure to drop the “r” sound after vowels and elongate some vowels for emphasis. For example, in the word “fire,” draw out the vowel sound “ai” so that it becomes “fah-iyah.”

Vocal ornamentation:

MacMaster often uses vocal ornamentation in her music. Try practicing trills, turns, and grace notes to add character to your singing. Make sure to use these ornaments tastefully – too much ornamentation can sound overwhelming.

Emotion:

Singing like MacMaster is all about conveying emotion in the performance. Listen to her performances whilst focusing on the emotions conveyed during the song. Be cautious not to get too caught up in the emotion which can lead to poor pitch accuracy, stay in control of emotions to express them convincingly.

Songs by Natalie MacMaster

To truly embody the style cultivated by MacMaster, it is helpful to listen to and learn some of her tunes. Here are several favorite songs to explore:

1. A Blast of Wind - This song is an upbeat and lively instrumental tune that showcases MacMaster's fiddling abilities. For people learning to sing with traditional Celtic music, “A Blast of Wind” is an excellent song to start with. Though sung in Gaelic lyrics, you can sing the melody tunefully and harmoniously.
2. Feelings of Distress - For a moodier song, check out "Feelings of Distress." It's a slow, melancholy tune that showcases MacMaster's emotive vocal abilities with great harmonies.
3. In My Hands - This is an upbeat, upbeat tune that showcases MacMaster's skill while telling a story with good lyrics. See how well you can sing rhythmically and melodiously with this piece.

Natalie MacMaster's Vocal Style - Insights & Exercises from Singing Carrots

Singing Carrots also offers various tools and resources to help you practice and develop your singing skills. Here are a few resources to check out if you want to learn to sing like MacMaster:

Breath support:

MacMaster's singing relies heavily on breath support which requires the singer to control the amount of air flow into and out of your body while singing. Focus on exercises at Singing Carrots like Farinelli Breathing which aim to strengthen your diaphragm while you breathe correctly.

Open mouth & throat:

Singing with an open mouth and throat while singing is essential to ensure clear, clean singing. You can learn the importance of open mouth and throat whilst singing with this article at Singing Carrots.

Articulation:

To emulate MacMaster's vocal ornamentation, it's essential to practice articulation with various techniques to perfect different ornamentation. Learn more about it with this article at Singing Carrots.

Vibrato:

If you listen to MacMaster's singing, you will notice her voice's vibrato. It is a technique that adds warmth and expression to singing. Learn more with this article by Singing Carrots and practice with these videos: Beggars Bounce, Diaphragm Bounce.