Last week, we discussed various signs that it might be time for you to switch Fachs. If you haven’t looked those over already, go ahead and take a moment to do that now. Then for this week, let’s jump into some steps you can take when you’re ready to switch Fachs.
Step 0: Talk to your teacher
Really, this step should be before, after and in between any time you contemplate your voice type. Your Fach or voice type is a technical consideration above all else, and your voice teacher is your technical guide. Any other signs of a Fach switch, as noted before, are either secondary to your technical needs or are indicators that you need to look at your technique. In other words, talking to your teacher and considering your technique take priority above all else. The suggestions mentioned in this list and the previous one are merely additional considerations to make.
Step 1: Decide where you’re going and why
While it may be incredibly obvious that you do not fit in your current voice type, it might not be so obvious where you need to go. If that’s the case of you, think about what you’re having a hard time with. Do you have a hard time staying in tune in certain parts of your voice? Do you have more sound in another part of your voice? Or perhaps, have you left a certain part of your voice undiscovered? If you’re a mezzo thinking of making a switch up, for example, you might think you don’t have high notes simply because you haven’t tried them.
Step 2: Determine what will be technically difficult about switching
This step will be significantly easier if you do Step 1 first (which is why, unlike the other list, this list has a particular order). Keep in mind that there is a difference between what will be technically difficult in general about a certain voice type versus what will be difficult for you. If you’re making a switch down, for example, most lower voice types have a harder time with high notes. Since you’ve already spent a fair amount of time up there though, you may have the opposite issue.
Step 3: Select repertoire that combines what you do well with what will be difficult
There is a substantial amount of repertoire out there that is considered to be sort of “in between” two voice types. As an example, Cherubino’s arias are often given to women who are questioning their voice type. However, just as we learned in Step 2, repertoire that generally fits a voice type may not help you with your change in particular.
Again, with your teacher, find repertoire that highlights a bit of what you do well, paired gently with what you need to work on (bonus points if the music uses your particular strength to develop your weakness, like using coloratura to reach high notes perhaps). Keep in mind that this might not be operatic repertoire. You may find better repertoire in art song, oratorio, or even outside of the classical genre. I know it can be so uncomfortable to sit between two voice types and you’ll be impatient to have it figured out, but that takes us to the next step…
Step 4: Give yourself time and space
As previously mentioned, Fach switches are uncomfortable on a personal level. Just about every singer wraps their voice type into their identity. It makes sense; it’s hard to not have your identity wrapped up in something that’s used literally to identify you. That’s why it’s even more important to let yourself get comfortable and develop away from the harshness of the real world. After all, the real world will be here when you get back.
Step 5: Take notes and self-evaluate
When you’re trying out new repertoire and new exercises to help you make a Fach switch, take note of how it’s going. What’s difficult? What’s easier? How does the rest of your technique compare to how you were singing before? Then, once you start bringing your new repertoire out into the world, consider some of the questions from the first list. Do these issues appear less? Do you feel better about where you are? If the answer is yes, then great! If not, feel free to adjust as needed.
As I’ve published some of these posts about the Fach system and voice types, I’ve been thrilled to hear from so many of you about your own Fach switches. If you would like to share your personal story with Operaversity to be part of a special project, feel free to fill out a contact form, or to send an email to Info@Operaversity.com for more details.
What steps have you taken to switch voice types? Let us know!