Also keep in mind that your weight can affect your voice and your singing abilities. If you think losing a few pounds could help you, learn the best way to lose weight at this site.

How to Belt – Easily and Without Strain

You’ve seen the stars on stage and TV, belting out tunes with so much power they make the walls shake. They make it look so easy. You can too, if you will believe in yourself and are willing to do what it takes to learn.But you’ve got to be careful. It’s one thing to visualize belting out a tune like Christina Aguilera, but remember, she had to cancel her summer tour in 2004 because of vocal chord strain. And she was lucky. Some stars have lost their voices – and their dreams entirely.

If you want to reach your full potential as a singer and enjoy a long, healthy career, then follow this proven system for unleashing your natural singing voice.

1.) Relax. Singing with too much tension in your throat, neck or shoulders could sentence you to a lifetime of vocal problems, including fatigue, strain and even damaged vocal chords. Before you even open your mouth to sing a single note, make sure you have released all of the tension in your body. In your free e-course “Greatest Singing Secrets of All Time!”, you’ll discover 5 exercises you can use to relax and release your full, natural voice.

2.) Warm Up Thoroughly.
Always start in a range that feels comfortable, and gradually work your way up and down. Sing in a comfortably loud voice. If you try to belt too loudly too soon, you’ll strain. On the other hand, if you hold back and sing too softly, you’ll under develop your voice and sound thin and weak. In “Greatest Singing Secrets of All Time!”, you’ll learn 3 exercises that allow you to develop a healthy belt. Plus, you’ll learn what vowel and word combinations are the easiest to start releasing the natural strength and beauty of your voice.

3.) Don’t try to sing too high (or too low) in a belt.
You’ll sound much better when you sing comfortably high notes that allow your voice to soar, sounding full and natural. If you sing too high, you may sound shrill and even damage your voice by straining too much. If you try to belt too low, you’ll push your voice out of tune.

4.) Don’t force it.
Follow the foundations of healthy singing when learning how to belt. Make sure your voice is supported by proper breathing and posture. Make sure your vocal pathway is open and relaxed. You’ll be much happier if you take your time learning this technique and get it right than to rush it and damage your voice (perhaps irreparably) in the process.

5.) NEVER force it.
This can’t be over emphasized. Many singers strain their voices severely when trying to belt, or sing too high, so I’ll say it even one more time. Never force it! Instead, follow a proven system to developing your voice safely and naturally.

If you’re serious about learning how to sing well, then go to www.powerfulsinging.com and get your valuable free report “Professional Singing Secrets!”

Jane Thomson graduated from the Classical Music program at Mohawk College with Honors in 1999. Since then, she has spent years helping her students discover vocal potential. Visit www.powerfulsinging.com to get your free report “Professional Singing Secrets” and get ideas to improve your voice.

Thank you, Jane! That was a fantastic article for great tips on how to belt!

Well-trained singers know how to belt, how to belt high notes, when to belt, and most importantly, how to belt PROPERLY.

Above all, it is critical to learn how to belt properly as to not damage your vocal chords (and your singing career) – but when this singing technique is learned properly and practiced properly, it is totally safe to do and add to your singing variations.

If you ever plan to sing in musicals, prepare to learn how to belt.  It is virtually required.

So, let’s take a moment and learn what belt is, the right way to belt, and the wrong way to belt.  The following is a guest article that will teach you how to belt and so much more about this singing technique.

How to Belt a Musical Theatre Number – What is Belt? – Belting Explained

Belt is a ‘hot topic’ amongst singers. Some say it’s essential for anyone wanting a career in musical theatre, others say it’s dangerous and should be avoided at all costs, others that it doesn’t even exist!

I can tell you for certain that belt exists, that – done properly – it’s completely safe and is vital if you want to sing in Musicals.

Jo Estill and Belt

Belt is one of the six voice qualities defined by Jo Estill as part of Estill Voice Training (EVT), the revolutionary method of learning to sing and teach singing that’s based on precise scientific knowledge rather that vague imagery and concepts.

Some of the confusion comes from the word itself. The verb ‘to belt’ means literally to shout or yell. While there are some similarities between yelling and Belting (children Belt in the playground) Belt (with a capital B) is not just shouting!

In EVT, Belt is described as ‘happy yelling’. Perhaps some of the confusion surrounding Belt would have been removed if Ms Estill had simply used another word!

What Belt isn’t

Belt is definitely NOT ‘chest’ voice taken higher. To be honest, if you’re still thinking in terms of head and chest, you’re probably a long way from understanding how to Belt.

Whilst there are similarities between Belt and other singing styles – even Operatic singing – eg the use of body muscles to support the sound, the main differences are physiological and apply to the larynx. In Belt, the larynx is held higher in the vocal tract and the laryngeal cartilages are positioned relative to each other in a way which is unique to Belt.

If you’re Classically trained to keep the larynx low and tilted, you’ll find Belting very odd initially. But learning to take independent control of the structures of the voice is what high-class, modern singing training is all about.

When to Belt

Songs are very rarely Belted all the way through. But all the big show tunes have a ‘money’ note or passage where Belting really is the only option – the song’s built up to that point and the audience is expecting the big pay-off. Nothing but Belt will do!

To answer the question of whether or not belt is dangerous: done properly ie with the correct set up, it’s completely safe. But it’s a high energy voice quality, so it carries with it an inherent risk – done incorrectly, it can cause vocal trauma.

This is why it’s vital that you’re taught to belt by someone who understands the physiological and anatomical nature of the voice and can show you – slowly and safely – how to set up the vocal mechanism properly. You simply can’t be taught to belt by anyone explaining the voice in terms of head and chest.

Learn to Belt – properly

As belt was a term coined by Jo Estill, clearly your best option to learn to belt is to seek the services of a trained Estill teacher. Certified Master Teachers (CMTs) undergo years of rigorous training and examination to ensure that they can teach Belt – and other voice qualities.

Only CMTs are allowed to teach Estill Voice Training in a private studio. Always ask to see the CMT certificate before undergoing training in belt.

To re-iterate, if you want a career in musical theatre, you need to know how to Belt. But learning Belt incorrectly can ruin your voice – and your chances of a career. Learn to Belt from the people who invented it – Estill Voice Training.

Andy Follin is a Certified Master Teacher of Estill Voice Training, based in the North West of England. As the only CMT in the area, Andy is uniquely placed to help both speakers and singers who wish to understand and control their voice.

His website Vocal Skills, has an FAQ section that tries to answer some of the most common topics including How to Belt a musical number.

It also contains a useful article on head voice and chest voice. Check it out to get the vocal skills you want and need.

Take your voice and your career seriously.

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