If you’re looking to freshen up the repertoire you offer your students, try these five song suggestions from Alexa Terry.
Vocal coach Alexa Terry, much like the Girl Scouts, always likes to ‘be prepared’.
Hence she has a bank of songs she can delve into when she’s called to suggest repertoire to students.
“I keep a repertoire list – a playlist on Spotify – that I can then share when it suits,” Alexa says.
The Singing Teachers Talk podcast host says that when it comes to finding the right song, it’s important to be mindful of cultural sensibilities and consider the student’s age, ability and aims.
For example, the student may be preparing for an audition or performance and want a song that showcases their voice without taking them too far out of their comfort zone.
Or they may simply wish to develop and explore their vocal technique within the safety of the studio, in which case something more challenging might be in order.
“My colleague vocal coach Kaya Herstad Carney talks about this as having a Snowdonia song and a Mount Everest,” Alexa says.
If you’re not an expert on UK geography or mountaineering, a Snowdonia song is “90% within your wheelhouse and 10% challenging so that you don’t lose interest, passion or confidence”.
In comparison, an Everest song is a real uphill climb.
“There might just be about 10% of that song that feels really good,” Alexa says.
“You’re challenging yourself, but it’s not something you’re going to take to a performance necessarily just yet. You might work on it in the sessions.”
If you’re looking for a Snowdonia or an Everest for one of your students, here are five of Alexa’s favourite songs right now.
Beautiful Little Fool from The Great Gatsby musical
Ideal for: A performer looking to showcase her acting skills.
In the show, Beautiful Little Fool is performed by Daisy when she’s talking about the limitations of women at the time.
The vocal range is between G3 and D5, with a lower belt around the B flat 4 popping up to the D5.
Budapest by George Ezra
Ideal for: A singer looking to establish chest voice and explore falsetto.
This can be sung by a female or male presenting voice, provided it’s in the appropriate key. This song has about an octave range between the F3 and F4 if we’re going with the original key. We can use it to establish chest voice and keep within that more comfortable zone of chest voice while introducing a falsetto or head voice flip on the chorus.
The Greatest by Billie Eilish
Ideal for: MT singers who want to explore pop and build on their MT storytelling skills.
This song features a narrative journey and a lovely vocal build. It has some of the breathy, aspirate sound that Eilish is known for. But it also has belt in there – up to about a C5. The total vocal range is around B3 to C5.
In The Air Tonight from the musical American Psycho
Ideal for: Choirs and group singing, as it has wonderful harmonies.
This song also has solo features and a good a cappella vibe.
Michelle by Sir Chloe
Ideal for: Singers who feel more comfortable in their chest voice but are developing and wanting to establish their head voice.
This song has Radiohead Creep vibes. The vocal range is from approximately E3.
Want to know more?
Listen to Alexa’s Songs to Inspire Your Singing Lessons on the Singing Teachers Talk podcast.”
