Lesson in Singing - The Break or Passagio

Know You Voice - What is The Break or Passagio ?

The Vocal Break or Passaggio is a term used in classical singing to describe the pitch ranges in which vocal registration events occur. Beneath passagio is the chest voice where any singer can produce a powerful sound, and above it lies the head voice, where a powerful and resonant sound is accessible only with voice training. If you don't train falsetto towards head voice, your break will be more apparent.

Bel canto describes a primo passaggio and a secondo passaggio in both the male and female voice. Speech Level Singing has something similar. A major goal of classical voice training in Bel Canto type styles is to maintain an even timbre throughout the passaggio. Through proper voice training, it is possible to produce a resonant and powerful sound. It is neither right nor wrong to have a break in your voice. Country singers and folk singers use the audiable flip as a feature in their songs, but it is considered a sign of excellence if the singer travels up the scale without a noticable flip.