Singing Guide: Walter Chiari

Singing Guide: Walter Chiari

Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources

Are you a beginner or advanced singer?

Walter Chiari was an Italian actor, comedian and singer, famous for his refined sense of humor, playful acting style, and charming singing voice. Born in Verona in 1924, Chiari started his career as a stage actor before rising to fame during the Italian Neorealism years, starring in Fellini's "Il Bidone," Monicelli's "Big Deal on Madonna Street," and other iconic movies.

Despite his versatile acting skills, Walter Chiari was equally known for his musical talent, which he often showcased on stage, TV shows, and soundtracks. His vocal style was smooth, lively, and expressive, characterized by a distinctive blend of crooning, falsetto, and scat singing, as well as his ability to emote lyrics with subtlety and humor.

If you want to learn how to sing like Walter Chiari, you need to focus on a few key elements of his vocal technique:

  1. Interpretation and emotion
  2. Walter Chiari was a master of lyrical expression, using his voice to convey a wide range of emotions, from joy to sorrow, from irony to tenderness. To emulate his singing style, you need to pay close attention to the lyrics and try to imbue them with as much feeling as possible, using pauses, inflections, and phrasing to convey the intended mood.

  3. Articulation and diction
  4. Another distinctive trait of Walter Chiari's singing was his impeccable articulation and diction. He enunciated each word with clarity and precision, creating a perfect balance between melody and meaning. To hone your articulation skills, practice singing slow and medium-tempo songs, focusing on every syllable and consonant. You can use the Finger Bite and Soft Palate videos from the Skills-related Videos section to strengthen your articulators.

  5. Vocal range and register
  6. Walter Chiari had an exceptional vocal range, covering four octaves with ease and flair. He often used his high-pitched falsetto for comedic effect, contrasting it with smoother baritone tones or playful scats. To expand your vocal range, try singing along with his songs, gradually raising the pitch and experimenting with different dynamics and breath support techniques. The Voice Registers video from the Skills-related Videos section will be helpful to achieve this goal.

  7. Breathing and phrasing
  8. Finally, to sing like Walter Chiari, you need to master your breathing and phrasing. He was known for his dynamic and nuanced singing style, using his breath to add expressiveness to his performances. To improve your breathing skills, use the Farinelli Breathing and Sustain Vocal exercises from the Skills-related Videos section; for phrasing, focus on shaping each sentence as a narrative arc, using your breath to create pauses that add drama or intensity.

To sum up, learning to sing like Walter Chiari requires a combination of technical skills and artistic sensibility, as well as a deep love for music and humor. You can use the Singing Carrots resources, such as the Vocal range test, Pitch accuracy test, Vocal Pitch Monitor, Pitch Training and Singing course from the Tools section to develop your voice and style.

Start your learning journey today and embrace the legacy of this iconic Italian artist!

Learn more about this artist vocal range, voice type and repertoire.