It is something all of us singers consider when putting together the performance of a song.  Should we be adding in some high notes to show “what we can do” and impress the audience?  I say if you have them all the time, then go for it.  But if you are not consistent with your high notes, why should you put the stress on yourself and the audience of getting them done right?  They will put your whole performance in jeopardy and it is not worth it.

Shania Twain said it recently on American Idol- “go with the note that is comfortable”.

I say,  if you can only get something right 50% of the time, don’t risk it in your performance.  The last thing you want to be worrying about in a stressful performance situation is whether or not you can reach your high note.  And as an audience member it is one of the worst, most uncomfortable things you can put us through. No one wants to hear strain. —-     So if you can’t do it don’t risk it.

Where you should be going for the high notes is in rehearsal and in your vocal warm ups.  That I completely encourage.  They are something that you need to practice in a healthy safe environment for your vocal chords.  Once you really get them “in your body”, then you can start bringing them to the actual stage.  And remember, often times when we sing out our nerves can get in the way of how well we perform.  So your body really needs to have memorized the exact execution and success of those high notes before you take them out for a walk or you may find that your body will clam up due to nerves and cause you a “bad reach”.

Singing should never feel like a reach rather a rooted or anchored stretch.

When approaching a high note in your vocal practice, imagine that you have set an anchor down through the middle of your body straight into the earth that is heavy.  This anchor is your muscle support, don’t let it go. Now open your mouth to sing and stretch your mind to make space around the height of your high note. You should be grounded in your sound but stretched through the back of your head, top of your head, through your upper palate, and straight through your eyes to let the space free to release your sound.

Also, practicing hitting your desired notes from different directions so that you are used to getting them out no matter what is a great strategy.  Sing the note just below and then that note.  Sing the note just above and then that note.  Practice coming from the octave below, fifth below etc…  In your vocalizing focus on getting up to that note well and then pass it getting up well to higher notes so that you know the note you want will be a sure thing every time, even in a performance.

Please check out a recent post I wrote on achieving success with your high notes.

We all love the wow factor of an incredible high note.  But that is only for an Incredible one.  No one wants to hear you screeching.  Many times the safer choice of not adding in the high note is better.  You want people to remember having an enjoyable experience watching you.  Don’t fixate on the importance of particular notes. Overall you must have a good show with out any negative drama.  Keep practicing!

written by Ariella Vaccarino creator of Voice Lessons To Go (singing lessons on CD) and author of Vocalize!

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What about a great high note makes us so crazed?  The anticipation of it, the singing of it on point, and then the release of it done well?  I think it is all three and  it is quite a thrill.  I myself being the highest type of singer, an Operatic Soprano (called a coloratura), know this subject personally.

As a singer of those notes I will say, they are quite a thrill to sing as well, even though the pressure for perfection is strong from your listeners and there are never any guarantees.  That is probably why it is so thrilling to listen to- there is such risk to it all.

When done correctly you really get a whole body connection like no other moment in a piece, as you use your body as a vessel for an incredible note to beam out, whether you are belting chest voice or a classical singer hitting a high F.

But high notes need to be sung well or they are just miserable to listen to!  Last thing we want is to hear or see any straining on a singer that is going for the golden notes.  If when singing them you feel your larynx raising up in your throat to do so, you are not going about it correctly or healthily.

There are definitely things you can do as a singer to minimize the risk of failing at your high notes.  On singing a good high note, your body needs to lock down deep- feet, legs, and abdomin to support your vocal chords. The more powerful and alert your body the freer your sound will be.

We also need to access the resonators in our forhead, top of our head, and back of our head.  In other words, imagine that there is space all around your head that you need to be creating so that the sound can bouce into and off of it.  You don’t want to listen to a note and feel you are at the “top” of it.  Rather, you should feel like there is more room for the next note up to come.   When it is totally working for me on a piece like Queen of the Night, I feel like I can’t even tell which way the sound is coming out of my head.  Like I am singing backwards forward, and all around myself.

So think of the above combination for you high note success- grounded body and sound, tension free larxnx, and space to resonate all around your head.  When you find that “pocket” like Adam Lambert, Freddie Mercury, and Joan Sutherland, or Luciano Pavarotti- you are in high note bliss for yourself and your audience.

Remember good singing is about letting your sound release not pushing your sound out- especially on a high note.

*Big recommendation though, until you sort this out for yourself, don’t attempt the big high notes in public.  When done wrong, people can be really unforgiving!

Here are some high notes to listen to:

Pavarotti- lay down in heaven for this one.  Whether you like Opera or not, his last few notes are going to make your hair raise and your eyes well!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VATmgtmR5o4

Siobhan Magnus:  The crazy note is about 1:20 into this one and is ridiculous!! (in the best way)                                                                                        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk1nK-W0Da0

Adam Lambert:  Thank you to whom ever put this clip together couldn’t be a better example (I’ve already written by Vocal God blog on him:            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkwJURnVGxo

Happy Listening!

written by Ariella Vaccarino creator of Voice Lessons To Go (singing lessons on CD) and author of Vocalize!

Want to receive immediate feedback on how you are singing from me?  Sign up for my Vocal Assessment. Then send me a link or mp3 of you singing (audio/or audio visual) with your questions and I will get back to you with my advice right away.

Follow me on twitter:http://www.twitter.com/singingvltg