Singing Guide: Phantom: The American Musical
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Phantom: The American Musical, is inspired by the classic gothic novel "The Phantom of the Opera" by Gaston Leroux. This musical is known for its emotionally-charged music, stunning stage design, and captivating storyline. The composer of this musical, Maury Yeston, delivers a performance that showcases the beauty and versatility of the human voice. In this article, we will be highlighting how to learn singing like Maury Yeston.
Maury Yeston is considered one of the greatest composers of modern times. His music is known for its sophisticated and complex harmonies, iconic melodies, and its praise of the human voice. What sets Maury Yeston apart is his mastery of vocal variation and development of each character's vocal style. In Phantom: The American Musical, he used each character's voice to not only express their emotions but also to reveal their personality and secrets.
To sing like Maury Yeston, you will need to:
- Understand different vocal styles: Maury Yeston used different vocal styles like belting, chest voice, head voice, and mixed voice to create distinct character voices. You can get valuable insights into these vocal styles by taking Singing Carrots's "Voice Types" course.
- Master breathing: As a composer, Maury Yeston understood the importance of breath control in singing. Good breathing is the key to longevity, proper singing posture, and to achieve a variety of vocal techniques. You can learn more about breathing through Singing Carrots's "Breathing Basics" course.
- Practice good enunciation: Diction and enunciation are as important as the voice when it comes to singing. It helps project your voice and makes sure that the listeners understand each word you are singing. Singing Carrots's "Articulation" course teaches valuable tips on proper enunciation.
- Experiment with resonance: Resonance refers to the amplification of sound as it resonates through the vocal tract. Maury Yeston used resonance to give vocal color and character to each part in his music. You can learn more about resonance through Singing Carrots's "Resonance in Singing" course.
To apply these tips, start with the following exercises:
- Belting: In Phantom: The American Musical, the character Christine Daae uses belting technique to express her mixed emotions. Singing Carrots's "Contemporary vocal techniques: Heavy Modal, Twang, Belting" video teaches how to use belting technique effectively.
- Head Voice: "The Music of the Night" song from Phantom: The American Musical is an example where a character uses head voice to express a ghostly, soft-sung melody. Singing Carrots's "Chest Voice/Voice Registers" series explains the head voice and how to use chest voice with it.
- Mixed Voice: In Phantom: The American Musical, the character Raoul has a distinctive mixed voice. Singing Carrots's "Voice Registers/Mixed Voice" video provides a helpful introduction to mixed voice technique.
- Vibrato: Vibrato is an essential technique to make the voice sound richer and fuller. Singing Carrots's "Singing with Vibrato" article teaches how to produce a vibrato effect in your singing.
In summary, Maury Yeston's music and vocal use are the backbone of Phantom: The American Musical. Singing like him requires understanding his techniques of character vocal development, breathing, enunciation, and resonance. To practice, begin with exercises in belting, head voice, mixed voice, and vibrato. Singing Carrots provides courses to help you build the skills required to sing like Maury Yeston, and they're a vibrant, detailed, and valuable introduction to any singer looking to develop or improve their craft.