Singing Question

[Anonymous]

I’m trying to learn more about signing. I just watched Hillary Scott (Lady A) and her 14 yr old daughter perform a Christmas song on the today show.

When Hillary Scott sings, her voice is very crisp and clear. When the daughter signs, it’s “hazy. I wish I had the words to describe it but when she sings, it sort of sounds like she just can’t reach the right notes. I’ve heard the same thing in the Voice and the coaches disagree with me and turn for the singer. So obviously I have no idea what I’m supposed to be listening for.

Can you tell me what this “hazy” voice I hear is called? Maybe I just like the crisp sounding artists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to learn more about signing. I just watched Hillary Scott (Lady A) and her 14 yr old daughter perform a Christmas song on the today show.

When Hillary Scott sings, her voice is very crisp and clear. When the daughter signs, it’s “hazy. I wish I had the words to describe it but when she sings, it sort of sounds like she just can’t reach the right notes. I’ve heard the same thing in the Voice and the coaches disagree with me and turn for the singer. So obviously I have no idea what I’m supposed to be listening for.

Can you tell me what this “hazy” voice I hear is called? Maybe I just like the crisp sounding artists.

Singing, not signing.

[Anonymous]

I couldn't find the exact video you're referring to, but I did find another one with Hillary and her daughter singing together. My take is that the daughter has a lovely voice, but--like a lot of kids and some untrained adults--it has a breathey and airy quality to it. Trained younger singers with that clear-as-a-bell tone, such as the Vienna Boy's Choir, undoubtedly spend a lot of time with pro voice teachers working on the fundamentals of breath support to reach and sustain higher/lower notes, especially notes that are a little beyond what they'd normally feel comfortable singing, and to develop that crystalline tone. Some of it might be nervousness too.

I am not a voice teacher myself, but as a choirister, I can tell you that the directors of my ensembles devote a fair bit of time each rehearsal to practicing proper breathing techniques to produce a certain tone.

[Anonymous]

I just searched to find a video, too.

Her daughter's voice is very sweet -- it's what a preteen's voice should be. Time will tell if she develops it or not. She's 14, so it *could* be more mature, but since it's not, I'd take this as a sign of good parenting. Seems like she is letting her kid be a kid, not pressuring her to be a musician. She also comes across as shy, which probably adds to her hazy/breathy quality.

I HATE kid belters. Hate. They're ruining their voices, and I think they are too often told they are amazing, when in reality, they're just loud.

So, time and training could make this kid's voice more "crisp," but who knows whether she wants that?

[Anonymous]

I think it’s due to breath support, which makes it sound like she’s not hitting the notes at the end of the phrase. She’s probably just running out of air. That comes with practice! Someone can have very nice vocal tone, but will end up sounding breathy if they aren’t supporting the sound from their lungs. For a young teen, I think her sound is totally normal and shows her mom isn’t pushing her to try too hard, but you are definitely correct in noticing there’s a difference!

[Anonymous]

can you post a link?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:can you post a link?

sorry, I was incorrect. Daughter is 11, not 14

https://www.today.com/video/hillary-scott-family-perform-hard-to-wait-for-christmas-on-today-226757701929?search=hillary%20scott

[Anonymous]

OK, that's a goofy song, but her voice is very sweet. I'm glad you clarified that she is 11. You can hear that she sounds MUCH more confident when she and her mom are singing together. Confidence and training (and age) will make her voice stronger.