How to Sing Like Shirley Horn

Born in Washington D.C., Shirley Horn is one of the most iconic jazz singers of our time. Her delicate, introspective voice has won the hearts of millions of music lovers. In this article, we will provide practical tips for singing like Shirley Horn and recommendations for resources to help you achieve your goal.

What is Shirley Horn's vocal style?

Shirley Horn's vocal style is often described as minimalist, with a distinctive speaking quality. She was known for her ability to convey emotion through her vocal inflection and phrasing, rather than through elaborate ornamentation, and her ability to create a mood that is both intimate and spacious.

How can you learn to sing like Shirley Horn?

To sing like Shirley Horn, you should:

• Fully understand your voice range to fit it in music you want to sing
• Build a deep emotional connection with the song and convey that through your performance
• Keep it minimalist - don't try to impress with singing tricks or vocal fireworks, concentrate on clear intonation and effortless singing
• Use dynamics and breathiness to communicate emotion - Shirley Horn is known for her distinctive vocal onset, characterized by a "breathing-in" quality that adds a layer of nuance to her singing
• Improvise working on a song - try to find your own way to interpret the melody
• Work on your timing - Horn's pacing is exquisite

What Shirley Horn songs should you sing to learn her style?

It is important to study Shirley Horn's top songs to gain insight into her vocal techniques. Here are some songs to start with:

• I Got Lost In His Arms: YouTube link
• The Great City: YouTube link
• Here's to Life: YouTube link
• The Look of Love: YouTube link

What are some Singing Carrots resources to help you sing like Shirley Horn?

Singing Carrots provides several resources to help you sing like Shirley Horn:

• Use the Pitch Training educational singing game to develop your pitch accuracy and vocal control.
• Find your vocal range with the Vocal range test and explore the range of famous singers with Artist vocal ranges.
• Develop your breathing technique by reading Breath Support, Breathing basics and Farinelli Breathing and use warm-up exercises provided in videos.
• Improve your articulation by reading Articulation and practice with exercises provided in videos.
• Check up on Vocal health and How to overcome stage fright.