Being a singer and a proud alto, here is one thing I can say with confidence: it can really really stink sometimes! Before you call me bitter and crazy just look at why:
No Melodies For You
You know those pretty little tunes that are nice and simple? The ones that you may already know from popular songs on the radio? Well, forget them. Those melodies are reserved for the sopranos. We get the “lovely” harmonies. Which either consist of what my barbershop choir companions call the "trash can notes” or fluctuating between the same three notes for an entire song. Now, of course it isn’t all bad. Being an alto allows you to annoyingly harmonize with everything you hear. A song on the radio, someone humming to themselves, or even a vacuum cleaner. Now that’s talent!
Lumping Sections
Altos are not to be in the spotlight. They are there to fill in those odd notes that the sopranos cannot hit or that sound better in a female voice. However because an alto's voice is uniquely lower; we often get put together with other sections. Namely the tenors. Now I have no “beef” with any other voice parts and especially not tenors. However, it never feels good to be lumped. Altos are not mashed potatoes! An alto and a tenor have two very distinct voices. Creating a whole new “altenor” section is actually not a thing.
Silly Altos High Notes Are For Sopranos
Here is something crazy, most altos can actually hit high notes. The term alto is used as an umbrella term, but in all reality doesn’t fully describe a person’s voice. This isn’t just true for altos; many people are deemed a voice part that may not fully capture all of their talents. I have been called a mezzo-soprano, dramatic soprano, contralto, tenor AND an alto. Don’t judge an alto by their deemed voice part. You never know! An alto may just surprise you with a glass shattering high note.
Featured Roles Only!
Have you ever dreamed of playing an ugly old lady, an ugly witch or even an ugly old lady witch? Then being an alto is for you! Do you want a love interest or just a plot line in general? Well, too bad. You know the saying always a bridesmaid, never a bride? That explains the life of an alto to a “T.” We get the comedy role, the sweet mother, the old lady and the witch. All are great, important and lovely parts. However we never get THE role. The spotlight is scarce in the life of an alto.
Wo-MAN
One thing about being able to hit lower notes is the desire to play male roles. Now of course this shouldn’t be a big deal at all (but we can discuss gender binaries another time). However, since there are these “limitations,” that desire is far out of reach. Many don’t believe that you could possibly hit those notes. Others think that wanting to play a male part is weird. On the contrary, male leads are the closest an alto has to living out our dream of the spotlight. So move aside Aaron Tveit because there is a new Gabe in town.
So, there it is: my rant about what can really stink about being an alto. But, I wouldn’t change it for the world. My voice, like my personality, is unique just as every voice is. All voices have a job in a choir just as every actor/actress has a role in a show. Even though there is a slight bitterness towards other parts, there is also a deep appreciation and awe in their talents. I, as an alto, can do something a soprano cannot and vice versa. Enjoy each other’s voices and praise the greatness that they possess.
