Belting is a specific technique of singing where a singer carries their chest voice above their break or passaggio with a proportion of head voice). It is sometimes described as "high chest voice" or "mixed voice"). Belting is a contemporary singing technique that produces a high-intensity, big, and powerful vocal sound. It is used in all contemporary genres of music, including musical theatre, pop, rock, and gospel.
Belting is an advanced skill that requires proper coordination to avoid constriction of the muscles surrounding the vocal mechanism, which can lead to vocal deterioration). Correct use of the technique and retraction of the ventricular folds while singing is vital to safe belting, as it involves a tremendous increase in the force exerted on the soft structures of the pharynx compared to more common modes of singing).
Some common misconceptions about belting are that it is only about volume and that it is damaging to the voice. However, belting has more to do with the way the sound vibrates coming out of the singers face than it does with volume. While acknowledging the extra risks inherent to belting, many proponents take pains to point out that it is no more damaging to the voice than any other type of singing, as long as it is produced properly without straining and pain).
In summary, belting is a specific technique of singing where a singer carries their chest voice above their break or passaggio with a proportion of head voice. It is a high-intensity, big, and powerful vocal sound used in all contemporary genres of music. Safe belting requires proper coordination and retraction of the ventricular folds while singing.