| First of all, lets get on the same page when we | | | | singers. So, if you have a mic, why would you |
| talk about "belting". I'm talking about the way we | | | | ever want to "belt"? |
| sing when someone important yells "I can't hear | | | | Let's suppose you front a rock band and your |
| you". We begin to push and shove and try to sing | | | | vocal amp goes out while you are singing. The |
| LOUDER. Our veins pop out in our neck, we take | | | | rest of the band is pounding away and so....you |
| a fighting stance, firmly set our jaw and SING. | | | | start to yell the song. Funny thing. The audience |
| Tension is everywhere. | | | | still won't hear you no matter how loud you try |
| Yet invariably we are still told " you're still not | | | | to sing. The human voice simply isn't capable of |
| singing loud enough." | | | | competing with a rock band. So, if you don't want |
| I suppose, if you were on stage with no | | | | to stop the song you might as well keep singing it |
| microphone, and a band or orchestra behind you, | | | | at the volume most comfortable for you. They |
| and a big audience, "belting" might help you be | | | | aren't going to hear you anyway. |
| heard a little better. But centuries have passed | | | | There are exercises and techniques which will add |
| with opera singers doing just this, only without | | | | punch, power and volume to your singing voice, |
| pushing their voices - or "belting". Opera singers | | | | but they take some time to learn. If you are too |
| have the uncanny ability to make their voices | | | | often feeling pressured by yourself or others to |
| heard over the orchestra, without a mic...and they | | | | "belt" it out: |
| do this without forcing. This has to do with years | | | | • Ignore them. |
| and years of training, and some special physical | | | | • Ride your mic closer or turn up your |
| equipment most of us aren't blessed with. | | | | volume in the mix. |
| Think about this: do you really need to "belt"? | | | | • Add more high mids and treble to your |
| Maybe so, if you are performing opera or musical | | | | vocal mix. |
| theatre without a mic and with a small, soft voice. | | | | • Buy a mic which is made to boost the highs |
| My only advice if this description fits you is to find | | | | and high mids. |
| other kinds of music to perform. | | | | • Find a good voice teacher and learn how to |
| I'm really speaking to the singers who perform | | | | do it right. |
| pop, rock. country and musical theatre with | | | | • Purchase a good singing course and learn |
| microphones. Mics are essential to these types of | | | | how to do it right. |