Opera is a style of theater that fuses classical music and singers in a dramatic performance. Although it usually takes years of training to become a professional opera singer, you can easily start the learning process with a few basics. To begin, you must determine your vocal range, learn to read opera scores, and improve your singing technique by taking classes with professionals and attending performances.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Hitting the Notes at the Opera
Step 1. Warm up your voice
Try an exercise known as elevator slides, as this is a great way to warm up your voice and reduce vocal cord injuries. Imitate a long, slow siren while making the “ah” sound. Start as low as you can. Then go up as high as you can and go down again.
- Repeat this procedure several times, experimenting with different vowel sounds, such as "ee" and "ooh."
- Keep your throat relaxed (especially when hitting high notes) to help keep the notes from getting stuck in your throat.
Step 2. Breathe slowly and deeply
Fill your lungs with air as you normally would, except now you must allow them to fully expand. Try to inhale through your nose and take your time to breathe well.
- Try not to make any sound when you inhale. You should do it slowly to help you avoid making sounds.
- If you can hear yourself breathing, then there is tension in your breathing. This tension will become audible in your breath as you sing.
Step 3. Keep your diaphragm expanded to support your voice on every note
So that you know where the diaphragm is located, place your hands firmly around your waist and cough. The muscle that pushes the hands is the diaphragm. When you breathe deeply, the diaphragm expands. It should stay expanded throughout the phrase you are singing until it is time to breathe again.
Try to keep your hands around your waist when starting to make sure you support your voice with your diaphragm
Step 4. Sing from middle C and go up two octaves to see if you have a soprano voice
The soprano is the highest range of the female voice. To check if you are within this range, play middle C on a piano or keyboard and match the note with your voice. You should do the same for all notes until you reach C two octaves above middle C.
- Coloratura sopranos (a subset of the soprano category) can actually sing F in third above middle C and sometimes even higher.
- If you can't reach the highest C, you are probably a mezzo-soprano.
Step 5. Try G below middle C and go up two octaves to A to see if you have a mezzo-soprano voice
The mezzo-soprano is the mid-range female voice. These singers often land supporting or villain roles in operas, although some French operas have mezzo-sopranos in lead roles.
Use a piano or keyboard to try to match the mezzo notes and determine if this is your voice range
Step 6. Sing in F below middle C to F an octave above it to check if you have an alto and countertenor voice
Alto is the lowest female voice range, and countertenor is the highest male voice range. Both ranges consist of almost the exact same notes. The only difference is that counterers generally fail to reach the lowest F, so that range actually starts from G below middle C and goes up an octave all the way up to Fa.
- True contralto voices are so rare that they often land contralto-mezzo-soprano roles.
- Countertenors often use a falsetto or head vocal technique to hit the high notes.
- If you are a woman with a deep voice or a man with a high voice, you are likely within these voice ranges. Use the piano or keyboard, and try to match the notes with your voice so that you discover it.
Step 7. Test C below middle C to C above middle to see if you have a tenor voice
Tenors often land male lead roles in operas. Like the other voice ranges, there are categories of subsets within the tenor range that are more particular to different types of roles.
Lyrical tenors can easily reach the highest notes in the range, and tend to land charming young male roles, while dramatic tenors tend to be more comfortable in the mid-range and play robust, muscular characters
Step 8. Sing 2nd G below middle C to G above if you have a baritone voice
This is the mid-range male voice. Play the notes on the piano or keyboard and try singing along to see if this is your range.
Baritone roles are often for comic characters or villains in nature
Step 9. Try singing E above middle C to E two octaves below if you have a deep voice
Often times, low voices (the lowest in the male range) land roles of old, comic or minor characters in operas. If you are male and have a fairly deep singing voice, try matching the low notes on the piano or keyboard to find out if this is your range.
Method 2 of 3: Read Opera Sheet Music
Step 1. Learn to read sheet music
In order for you to know the notes to sing on opera paper, you must be able to read sheet music. You can learn this skill from books or tutorials online, or take lessons with a vocal instructor.
- Type "how to read sheet music" to find online resources and instructors near you. You can also check out books about sheet music reading at your local library.
- Learn the basics by studying the staff and then the notes on the treble and bass clefs. Get used to the different types of notes and what they mean. Then continue learning about more complex features like meter, tempo, and melody.
Step 2. Familiarize yourself with Italian, the German or the French.
It will be helpful to understand the meaning of what you are singing, as operas are essentially sung dramas. Also, you need to make sure you pronounce the words correctly.
Try using a language learning app or browsing a library for books to familiarize yourself with the basic grammar and language vocabulary of your favorite operas
Step 3. Watch opera videos as you read the words
Review videos and audio clips on the internet and visit a local library to review recordings of operas. While listening to these recordings, follow the written script.
- Observe the movement and facial expressions of the singers to familiarize yourself with operatic performance techniques.
- If possible, you should look for operas that offer Spanish translations to help you better understand the story.
Method 3 of 3: Improve Your Singing Skill
Step 1. Train with a professional instructor
An instructor can help you learn different patterns, modulation, and voice impulse techniques that are commonly used in opera. You can search for “opera instructors near you” on the internet to find a teacher in your area.
Many larger cities have opera organizations that offer group voice classes or private classes for a monthly fee
Step 2. Join a local singing group
Contact a local church choir, your school singing club, or another community singing group. Any opportunity to sing will help improve your confidence and singing skills. Some helpful websites to search for singing opportunities in your area include Choralnet at https://www.choralnet.org/ and Contemporary A Capella Society of America at
These web pages allow you to enter your zip code to find singing opportunities in your area
Step 3. Attend live opera performances
To live the full opera experience, you must attend live shows as well as watch videos and listen to recordings. Being in a theater during a performance will give you an idea of how skilled a professional opera singer is. Type “operas near me” online to find live performances in your area.
Opera singers rarely use microphones. So when you see a performer, keep in mind that they are making their voice project throughout the theater
Step 4. Audition to perform live at local operas
When you feel ready to sing opera professionally, you can test yourself by auditioning. Websites like YAP Tracker and Playbill.com have audition sections for upcoming live operas. You can also search for “calls for operas near me” on the internet to find auditions for local live performances.