Singing Guide: Starlight Express
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Starlight Express is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. The show is notable for its cast of performers on roller skates, and for its high-energy songs that showcase a variety of vocal techniques.
If you're interested in learning to sing like the performers in Starlight Express, the first step is to work on your breathing technique. Proper breath support is key to projecting your singing voice and sustaining musical phrases. The article "Breathing basics" provides a good starting point, with tips on active and passive breathing.
Next, you'll want to work on your vocal range and register. Starlight Express features a wide range of vocal styles, including head voice, chest voice, and falsetto. The article "Voice registers & vocal break" explains the different registers and how to transition between them smoothly.
To improve your articulation and diction, check out the article "Articulation." And for tips on finding your own unique voice, take a look at "How to find your own authentic voice."
In addition to these articles, there are several relevant Singing Carrots tools and exercises. The vocal range test allows you to assess your range and compare it to other singers. The pitch accuracy test helps you work on hitting the right notes, while the vocal pitch monitor lets you see your notes on a virtual piano.
One of the most useful exercises for learning Starlight Express-style singing is to work on your vibrato. Check out the "Singing with Vibrato" article and the "Beggars Bounce" and "Diaphragm Bounce" videos for some helpful exercises.
If you're interested in contemporary vocal techniques, the "Contemporary vocal techniques: Heavy modal, Twang, Belting" article and the "How to Twang Exercise" and "How to Growl Exercise" videos may be of particular interest.
Finally, to find songs to practice singing in the Starlight Express style, use the Singing Carrots song search. This tool lets you filter songs by vocal range, difficulty, and genre preference, making it easy to find songs that match your skills and interests.