Is Knowing my Voice Type Important?

I often get asked “what is my voice type?” And, the answer doesn’t begin so simply. Sure, when I hear a student sing, and even speak, I immediately hear the range, texture, tone and function and assume a voice type or range. But, the truth is, the voice, with proper registration training, starts to shave off the layers of poor technique and manipulation and begins to REVEAL ITSELF.  This takes time, especially if a singer’s registration is really off when they start (old habits die hard!).  If they don’t have a developed chest or falsetto, then they are literally missing a huge sum of notes! And those notes, where they should lie in range of registration, help determine the voice type as well.  

With my very developed voice, my chest voice can go down to C below middle C on certain days, but this does not mean I’m an alto/mezzo soprano/contralto!  Quite the contrary, my top range extends above high C(6), usually to a G6 on a good day.  Would a choir director make me an alto because I have a developed chest voice that can reach all the notes, but then likely miss out on my super high range which would be considered a 1st soprano/coloratura? How many of you have been mis-categorized based on the “need” in a choir section or a role in a production!?

We must reveal the range and correct tone quality by refining the healthy registration first. Developing registration to its potential, the resonance adjustment will begin to mature as it is allowed in coupling with the proper registration.  ONLY THEN will we begin to hear the true voice type. The range is first due to registration (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass, plus slight variations), but the more specific “fach” (German voice classification system), will only be revealed in a maturely developed voice that has added resonance.  In addition, the majority of your notes should be sung in the middle of your range, which we can’t know the range until the registration is complete! As the great Blache Marchesi said “Before voices can be classified, they must be brought out, and by the right method, so that their quality and category may be determined. Not every voice shows at the very beginning to which category it belongs, and in such cases the teacher must proceed cautiously and not stubbornly to a preconceived judgment, from a wish to appear infallible. Unless the development is closely followed, a fatal mistake is easily made.” (Reid, Cornelius. Bel Canto, pg. 88). Here she is saying, the voice must reveal itself, don’t get hasty in your hope that a voice may be something it is not, don’t force it to go there, either! And, not all methods are “right” for vocal development either, so beware!

So, singers, teachers, please wait to label your voice until this registration work is accomplished. If there has always been a part of your range lacking, it can be cured. The CAUSE is the answer - the MEANS is registration development.