I have a Tessitura!

Have you ever sung a piece in which you technically could sing all the notes (high and low) and yet it always seems to be a struggle to get through the song?  While this may be a sign that you should visit your voice teacher, there is another possibility: that the piece has the wrong tessitura for your voice type.

What is a tessitura?  Basically, it is the range of pitches a song stays around for a majority of the time.  In math terms, the tessitura is the 'average' of pitches; while the song may have a few huge high or low notes, pitches tend to hang around a certain area.  Depending on your voice type, it may be the song's average pitch level sits uncomfortably high or low. In these cases, strain on your voice may not be a technical issue with your singing, but rather picking a song that isn't right for your voice.

As an example, I will use my own voice.  I am a high baritone, and the average professional baritone should be able to sing well and with resonance for a concert hall from A2-G4.  However, because I have had some excellent training, my range can go from F2-B4 (sometimes even C5, which is the tenor money note!).  Just because I have those pitches, however, does not mean I should sing tenor pieces or low bass songs.  If I did, while I might technically be able to sing the pitches, I would probably feel very winded at the end.  Tessituras for each voice type are smaller than your actual pitch range; so while the average pro baritone might be able to sing from G2-A4, they will pick roles that have a tessitura from D3-F4. 

This is why picking appropriate music is SO important to be successful in audition or concert.  It isn't enough to just know you can sing the pitches and act the piece out; you need to check on the average pitch level to ensure the song lies where your voice feels most comfortable.

DWS