Vocal Techniques of Suzanne Hevner

Suzanne Hevner was a soprano and voice teacher, known for her technique in bel canto singing in both early and contemporary repertoire. She was famous for mastering a pure and bright timbre, with great control over vibrato, pitch, and dynamics. In this article, we will explore Hevner's vocal technique and suggest songs and resources for learning how to sing like her.

Hevner's singing was a masterclass of bel canto, which emphasizes beauty of sound, tonal purity, and long phrases. She was committed to keeping her throat and jaw open while singing, enabling her to hit the high notes effortlessly without straining her vocal cords. Her students often praised her ability to help them achieve the same level of effortless singing technique.

A crucial aspect of Hevner's vocal technique was her breath control. She encouraged students to use their diaphragm when singing, allowing them to breathe from the bottom of their lungs and support their voice with the proper amount of air. Proper breathing technique can improve pitch accuracy and vocal agility.

Hevner also employed vowel modification, a technique that involves slightly altering the shape of vowels to create a more focused and resonant sound. This technique helped her create a fuller sound in her singing, especially in the upper register.

If you want to learn how to sing like Suzanne Hevner, follow the practical tips below and try Singing Carrots' resources:

1. Work on Open Mouth and Throat Techniques. Singing with an open mouth and relaxed jaw will help you achieve a pure and bright timbre, like Hevner's. You can practice this technique using the Open Mouth and Throat article on Singing Carrots.
2. Practice Breathing Techniques. Proper breath support will help you create long phrases and increase your pitch accuracy. Try exercises such as Farinelli breathing and Breath Support to learn proper breath control.
3. Experiment with Vowel Modification. Vowel modifications can help you achieve a fuller and more resonant sound. Use Singing Carrots' Vocal ranges of famous singers to explore vowel modifications.
4. Sing a Wide Variety of Songs. Suzanne Hevner sang not only classical repertoire but also lieder and art songs. Practice singing a variety of genres to expand your singing technique and repertoire. You can use Singing Carrots' Song-Book tool to find songs matching your Vocal range, difficulty, and genre preference.

Songs to Showcase Suzanne Hevner's Vocal Technique

Here are some songs that showcase Hevner's unique vocal technique:

• "Caro mio ben" by Tommaso Giordani
• "Voi che sapete" from Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro
• "Je veux vivre" from Gounod's Romeo et Juliette
• "Ach ich fuhl's" from Mozart's Die Zauberflote

Resources for Learning to Sing Like Suzanne Hevner

Singing Carrots offers many resources to help you learn how to sing like Suzanne Hevner. Here are some you can check out:

• Vocal Range Test: Determine your vocal range and compare it with famous singers on Singing Carrots' Vocal range test.
• Pitch Accuracy Test: Assess your pitch accuracy and practice your intonation using Singing Carrots' Pitch accuracy test.
• Vocal Pitch Monitor: See your sung notes on a virtual piano and improve your pitch accuracy.
• Pitch Training: Use Singing Carrots' Interactive vocal warm-ups and exercises for range and agility to improve your singing technique.
• Artist vocal ranges: Discover vocal ranges of over 5000 famous singers to learn from their singing technique.
• Singing course: Sign up for the Singing Carrots' singing course, a 21-lesson program covering singing theory and practical tips.

Conclusion

Suzanne Hevner's vocal technique was characterized by pure and bright timbre, breath control, and vowel modification. To learn how to sing like her, practice open-mouthed singing, proper breathing techniques, and experiment with vowel modification. Singing Carrots' resources such as the Vocal Range Test, Pitch Accuracy Test, and Vocal Pitch Monitor, as well as the tools available on the site, are also very helpful in improving your singing skills. Finally, try learning Hevner's songs, as they showcase her unique vocal technique.