Tom Kitt is an award-winning composer and musician, known for his work in many Broadway productions, including "Next to Normal," "If/Then," and "Bring it On: The Musical." With a unique sound that combines rock and contemporary styles with traditional theatrical orchestration and choral singing, Kitt's music is a great choice for singers seeking to develop their own voices and styles. In this article, we will explore some practical tips for learning to sing like Tom Kitt. We will also highlight some of his most iconic musical numbers and use resources from Singing Carrots to aid your practice.

1. Learn the music

One of the most important things to focus on when learning to sing Tom Kitt's music is to learn the melodies and lyrics thoroughly. Spend some time listening to the recordings of his songs to become familiar with the chord progressions, the melody line, and the vocal inflections. Use the song search provided by Singing Carrots to find songs that match your style and vocal range. Also, check the songbook feature, which provides sheet music, lyrics, chords, and karaoke tunes for your repertoire.

2. Practice your vocal range

Tom Kitt's music often features a wide vocal range, so it is essential to develop your vocal range up and down the scale. The vocal range test from Singing Carrots is an excellent way to develop your unique style. There are multiple ranges of voice like alto, tenor, and soprano. Suppose your voice matches any one of them you can try the range test.

3. Pitch accuracy

Assessing pitch accuracy is an essential skill for singing in general, and particularly significant for Tom Kitt's music. His music is expertly crafted to tailor itself to every intent of singing, from the softer lyrics to the rock genre of voice. You can use the pitch accuracy test on Singing Carrots to help sharpen your pitch notation and timing.

4. Vocal Pitch Monitor

One of the exciting things about Tom Kitt's music is the careful balance between the vocal melody and the rest of the instrumentation. Use the vocal pitch monitor feature from Singing Carrots to aid your practice sessions and ensure that your voice stays in tune with the music.

5. Research the Inspiration

Tom Kitt has developed his unique sound drawing influence from various genres like traditional orchestration, rock, and contemporary styles. It becomes fundamental for the singers to listen to his musical numbers and research similar compositions that Kitt might have inspired from.

6. Breath Support

One of the most significant aspects of any singer's technique is proper breathing. Learning how to support your breath is key to sustaining the long notes and phrases required in many of Tom Kitt's numbers. You can refer to Singing Carrots' breathing basics to guide your practice correctly.

7. Tips for Performing

Singing Tom Kitt's music requires more than just vocal technique; it also requires a particular level of stage performance in terms of lights, choreography, and attire. Even if you're just singing for a casual audience, always prepare as though you're performing for an audience. You can use Singing Carrot's Tips for Performing onstage to aid your stage presence.

8. Singing Theory and Practical Tips

To achieve vocal development, going beyond the basics becomes a must-learn. Therefore, taking the Singing Course offered by Singing Carrots could better provide Vocal Theory and Practical Tips. Singing Course comprises 21 lessons covering everything from basics to advanced.

Iconic Tom Kitt Numbers

1. Superboy and the Invisible Girl
2. You Don't Know
3. Make Up Your Mind/Catch Me I'm Falling
4. I'm Alive
5. I Miss the Mountains
6. Hey Kid
7. Always Starting Over
8. What the Fuck Now, Lavinia?
9. My Eyes
10. Light

In conclusion, learning how to sing like Tom Kitt requires discipline and dedication. The most critical steps include learning the music, practicing your vocal range, and actively listening to his music as well as researching his inspirations. With the help of Singing Carrots' range test, pitch accuracy test, vocal pitch monitor, search songs, vocal ranges of famous singers, singing course, and vast collection of articles, videos, and tools, you can sharpen your vocal skills and develop your unique singing style.