...It is this unique quality which so many singers have attempted to emulate in the last 60 years, with sometimes detrimental and career-jeopardizing effects. From a pedagogical standpoint, the term belting has often been associated with an unhealthy use of the vocal mechanism and many classically based singing teachers find this style of singing offensive. Belting is associated with the American Musical theatre. Alarmingly loud in small spaces, it is thrilling to hear in live theatrical performance. It is important to understand that belting doesn’t require a great deal of force, and many people tend to make assumptions in associating belting with a large force on the vocal chords. In order to Belt one must have good breath control, as breath...
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...Kathryn Henry Vocal Pedagogy Term Paper 4/27/14 Is it Locked?: The Study of the Temporomandibular Joint and its Effects on Vocal Production In this research paper, I will discuss the temporomandibular joint and its effects on vocal production. The paper begins with a definition of what the temporomandibular joint is, where it sits in the skull, and what its functions are. Following this section will be disorders and treatments of disorders that one may encounter involving the temporomandibular joint. Finally, I will discuss how temporomandibular joint disorders can negatively affect a singer’s vocal production. The Temporomandibular Joint, or TMJ, is a joint located in front of one’s ears on each side of the face. ‘Temporo’ refers to the temple, the bone in the side of one’s head, and ‘mandibular’ refers to the mandible. The joint connects the mandible to the bone on the side of the head. The TMJ allows the mandible to move up and down as well as back when chewing, talking, or yawning. As the mouth opens, the rounded edges of the mandible, called condyles, glide along the socket of the temporal bone. As the mouth closes, the condyles slide back into their original resting positions. The TMJ is a ginglymo-arthrodial joint, meaning that the joint allows forward and backward movements, ginglymoid, as well as gliding movements within narrow limits, arthrodial.The TMJ has a combination of hinging and sliding motions, making this joint among the most complicated of the human...
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...Singing Technique for Beginners So, you want to be a vocalist? Well, it is not as easy as it looks. Famous singers such as Joan Sutherland and Luciano Pavarotti may make singing appear to be effortless. But, in reality, there is a lot of technique involved in order to achieve the desired sound. Proper technique is very important when vocalizing. If you do not practice proper technique you could risk damaging vocal folds, it will also help you to reach your full potential as a vocalist. In order to sing correctly, one must learn to use proper breath support. It is a common misconception that when we inhale our chest or stomach should expand. This is not true; when singing, neither of these areas should expand. Expansion should actually occur in the back and the sides. A way to test if you are doing this correctly would be to stand and bend 90 degrees at your waist. Put your hands on your lower back then breath in. If you feel your back expanding then you are breathing properly. Once you have mastered this fundamental of singing you can move on to the next: posture. Posture is the alignment of the body. It is important to keep your spinal cord straight and align your rib cage when vocalizing. Beginning singers often “assume an exaggerated upright stance or “swayback” position. This restricts the upward pull of the abdominal muscles necessary for correct support” (Klein 17). One way to make sure your posture is correct is to sit on a stool and adjust your lower back against...
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...Effects of medication on the singing voice Medication effecting the singing voice is a very common thing. Taking medication can be very dangerous to the singing voice if you are not careful. There are ways to exercise the voice to prevent damage or help fix some of the effects the medicine has on the singing voice . When you are taking a medication that might harm or hurt the singing voice you might need to develop new routines. If you don’t do anything to help the singing voice while on medication like trying new routines, finding new techniques, or using exercises to keep you singing voice in the best shape possible that could really take a toll and ruin your singing voice forever. One way medicine can ruin the singing voice is by drying out the mouth. If you are constantly needing water or to keep the mouth moist then that can ruin a performance or prevent a singer from singing. Dryness causes itching in the throat and that can be very irritating to deal with. Techniques to prevent medicine from drying out the singing voice are eating a peppermint before singing or chewing a piece of gum before singing. New routines a singer could try is but drinking water constantly not just once in a while. For this to work it needs to become a new routine. Or maybe try the technique of dinking a little bit of honey-lemon water before singing. If a singer is addicted to drugs non-prescribed to them it could take a toll on their career. The drugs could cause numbness which...
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...and have very unique styles. In the beginning there was not as much dancing and bright colors and things like that. The Omg Girlz are and an example of brightness is and dancing throughout the song. Xscape is more of a laid back group the dance, but it was smoothe. While the groups dance, dress, and sing different. Dancing is the main thing in having a successful group or music career. With dancing it keeps the people interested and keep wanting more. Back in the day such as the 90’s a group called Xscape was very popular. The kind of dancing they did was smoothe and was just to enhance their songs, but not take away from the meaning of what they were singing. In that time period it was not all about seduction it was getting feelings across and the meaning of the song. They took their time in what they were singing and the dancing flowed very smooth together. The Omg Girlz dance fast and really do not focus on the words. Their lyrics are catchy and very easy to understand, so the dancing plays a role along with the lyrics and the dancing. The dancing is more fast and appealing to the teenage and younger generation of today 2012. The way a group dresses is also a major part of being a successful entertainer. Xscape dressed in business suits with the button-up shirts open showing their bras. That was just one of the looks that caught the peoples attention and sold records. The hair was natural, colored browns and blacks in the 90’s that was the style. As they got...
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...Hulda, Hulda’s husband, Wilbur, and their daughter, Drizella. Aurora always missed her parents, but enjoyed living with Drizella’s family. Unfortunately, her relationship with Drizella was not the best. Drizella was jealous of Aurora’s beauty and her amazing singing voice. Aurora always found it strange that Drizella could be jealous of her. Drizella was rude, demanding, and conceited, but she had it all: all the money in the world and two parents who loved her. She made fun of Aurora, always looking down upon her as if she were nothing. When Aurora turned 18, Wilbur and Hulda bought her an apartment nearby. She was pretty, smart, and all of the men who met her wanted to be with her. Aurora still hungered for the love and nurturing that only a mother could provide. Hulda was great, but she wasn’t her mother. One day, as Aurora was leaving her apartment, she noticed an advertisement for a singing competition that was coming to town. She realized that winning the competition would be the perfect way for her to create a future for herself. The morning of May 3rd neared – the day on which the singing competition would take place. What Aurora did not know, was that Drizella was also expecting to participate in and win the singing competition. They would each try to win over the...
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...A japanes song By: Aomori When summer comes, The paddy pools grow warm The mud lark and the singing frog Are happy, are happy Thinking they're in bath. When winter comes, The paddy pools are filmed with ice, The mud lark and the singing frog Must think their heaven has stretched Has stretched and grown above. When spring comes There's water in the paddy pools The mud lark and the singing frog Are happy, are happy Thinking they're in the sea. When autumn comes, The hills and dales turn red The mud lark and the singing frog Craning their necks above, Must think of the hills are on fire. The Tame Bird and the Free Bird by: Rabindranath Tagore THE tame bird was in a cage, the free bird was in the forest. They met when the time came, it was a decree of fate. The free bird cries, 'O my love, let us fly to the wood.' The cage bird whispers, 'Come hither, let us both live in the cage.' Says the free bird, 'Among bars, where is there room to spread one's wings?' 'Alas,' cries the caged bird, 'I should not know where to sit perched in the sky.' The free bird cries, 'My darling, sing the songs of the woodlands.' The cage bird sings, 'Sit by my side, I'll teach you the speech of the learned.' The forest bird cries, 'No, ah no! songs can never be taught.' The cage bird says, 'Alas for me, I know not the songs of the woodlands.' There love is intense with longing, but they never can fly wing to wing. Through the bars of the...
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...pianist who set out to discover who put the song into Chopin. As the narrator introduces James Rhodes, Rhodes is playing Chopin’s 4th Ballade in F Minor OP.52. I really liked this Ballade; the melody is so sweet and the tempo is so soothing. Chopin’s genius was to create a whole new language for the piano, a language that was heavily influenced by his passion for opera singing. Chopin was obsessed with the Italian Opera of the Day , Belcanto, the opera of Rossini. Belcanto literally means “Beautiful Singing”. Chopin was born in 1810 and grew up in the city of Warsaw in a time where Poland was very peaceful. Chopin was taught by his mother to play the piano. By the age of 7, Chopin was already composing on the instrument. By the age of 8, Chopin was referred to in the press as a musical genius. Chopin started going to the operas at the young age of 11, and he loved it! Chopin also loved the Belcanto sytle singing. Chopin would use different notes to emphasize the texture of the music to create beautiful harmony like a singer accompanying perfectly with a song. Chopin knew exactly how to match the Belcanto style of singing. The city of Paris is where Chopin finally found himself after leaving Poland at the age of 21....
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...For a young person with little experience, music can be a hard concept, especially singing. At the age of nine, I stepped into the field of music. Little did I know that it would be life-changing. My story begins in 2001. My mother asked if I would be interested in singing. I hadn’t given it much thought. She suggested I join the Phoenix Boys Choir. She explained what it was and how successful it had always been. I decided to try out. When I arrived, I met the conductor in charge of the younger boys. She had me sing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” A few moments later the conductor announced that I had passed my audition and would soon be a member of the training choir. I was so thrilled I couldn’t say a word. This would turn out to be one of the most memorable moments of my life. I was going to be a member of the internationally known Phoenix Boys Choir! I moved up through the levels of the choir quickly. Every boy longs to be in the most elite group – the Tour Choir. After two years, I made it. At 11 I had learned more about music than I could possibly have imagined. I learned music theory and how to read music. By the end of seventh grade I had been to Spain, Italy, and France. In Rome we performed at Saint Peter’s Basilica. It was a blessing to be able to sing in such a holy setting. We also sang in the Florence Cathedral. We traveled around the United States performing with other choirs. Often we sang for dignitaries. I think God blessed me with this talent...
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...Mastering the art Memorizing does not have to be as hard as most people make it. The problem is that most people only know how to memorize by reading the same thing over and over again. * Memorization - The property of permanent terms to be stored in permanent memory and be amenable to retrieval. * How to memorize * Practice Recalling not Repeating * Reading is the way a person gets information from written letters and words. * Speaking from notes- There is a right way and wrong way to use speaking notes when delivering a presentation. The wrong way is to read directly from your notes. The right way is to glance at them throughout your presentation to keep it on track. If you want to use speaking notes, here are a few tips you can use to ensure that you do not end up reading them word for word: * Use speaking notes to capture the outline of your presentation. If you write out everything you want to say, you will likely end up reading it to your audience. * Use speaking notes to capture additional points or points of interest you want to mention. * Put your speaking notes on index cards, instead of full sheets of paper. Index cards are easier to hold (and have less space for notes!). * * Impromptu speaking * without preparation * Made or done without previous preparation: an impromptu address to the unexpected crowds. * Overcome Anxiety and stage fright * The first step in mastering stage fright, and all kinds of...
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...I. VOCAL ANATOMY Sound is actually produced by the pressure changes created when small jets of air pass through moving vocal cords/folds or larynx. The vocal cords themselves produce only a “buzzing” sound; the resonators are necessary to create music and speech. Resonators: • Sinus • Nasal Cavity • Palates (Soft and Hard) • Oral Cavity • Tongue • Pharynx The articulators are responsible for enunciating the lyrics/words of the song. Articulators: • Teeth • Tongue • Palates • Lips [pic] II. VOCAL CLASSIFICATION PITCH The sound of a note is called a pitch. Each key represents different note or pitch. The quicker our vocal folds open and close the higher pitch we produce. VOCAL RANGE Everyone has a different vocal ability which in (mainly) classical, operatic and theatrical circles is grouped into a classification which is also known as 'vocal fach'. A singer with a wide vocal range may cover more than one 'fach' and as the voice develops with age, training and experience, the classification into which the singer has initially been grouped may no longer apply. As general rule: • SOPRANO high female voice, G3 (below middle C4) to F6 above high C6 although anywhere above high C can be included • COLORATURA a singer, usually soprano, who sings ornamental passages in...
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...“Eleanor Rigby” is very different when compared to a normal Beatles song, such as “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” Usually, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and John Lennon played a variety of electric guitars while Ringo Starr played drums. In “Eleanor Rigby”, the entirety of the band is not playing their usual instruments. Starr was not even a part of the song hence the lack of drums. Harrison and Lennon instead sang harmony while McCartney sang as the lead vocalist. Furthermore, with the lack of guitars and drums, the music heard below the vocals was played by a string octet. Usually, a string quartet consists of two violins, one viola, and one cello. However, in this case, the string quartet is doubled, which means 4 violins, two violas, and two cellos, in order to create a more powerful sound. Oddly, “Eleanor Rigby” begins strongly with the chorus. While the cellos are arpeggiating, the violins and violas are playing a series of short, fast notes. While the cellos are sustained, the violins and violas are playing a brief subject that eventually returns to the tonic. At 0:14, the first verse begins with vocals and, again, short notes from the upper strings. From the lower strings, we hear a punctual, driving bass line with an occasional arpeggio. We also hear another brief subject of eighth notes from the upper strings. At 0:31, the first of two bridges begins. The violas are playing eighth notes underneath the vocals while the violins and cellos are sustained. At 0:46, the...
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...Vibrato, Breathiness and Belting Sources: www.singinglessonsguildford.com Belting: 2 tips to massively extend your chest voice range Belting is high intensity, loud singing. Essentially, belting is yelling in a controlled manner, with a few other things thrown in to make sure you are doing it safely and healthily. The belt usually comes (if the composer is sensitive and intelligent) at emotionally climactic moments within a song or a show. These can be moments of pain, anguish, joy, pleasure, ecstasy, or when a character is desperate to be heard, seen or noticed. The lyric/s that a belt is used on is usually carefully considered. Belting is always a loud, thick, exciting sound and is usually characterized by straight tone leading into vibrato at the most pleasing moment in the harmonic progression to release the built tension. Tip One: Tilt the Cricoid Cartilage The larynx is composed of two main pieces of cartilage: the Adams apple (thyroid cartilage) and a band of cartilage which forms the top of the trachea and the base of the larynx – the cricoid cartilage. By activating what’s called a cricoid tilt, we can adjust the position of the cricoid to shorten the vocal folds. So how to get this working: There are two lumps on your larynx. The top lump is your thyroid cartilage and the bottom lump is your cricoid cartilage. For boys, the top lump will usually be much larger than the bottom. Girls may find this more difficult, and the cricoid cartilage may actually be...
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...and what he did to be able to move on from the fear. Joe was a song writer that had so many songs written he just always had a fear of singing them, he would even be paranoid of his roommates hearing him. Finally he decided to try to overcome this and decided to go to a local open mic and sing. On his first try he showed up and saw that there was a lot of people there, at least in his opinion the roughly 20 people was a lot. It got to the point that he was about to perform the fear kicked in but it also made his adrenaline kick in, he could feel his heart rate increasing and his breathing got faster. He got himself on stage and started to sing and it was horrible and uncomfortable. He could feel the audience was also uncomfortable and felt as if they were focusing on how horrible and uncomfortable he was. Finally he had finished his first singing experience. This is where his persistence and enthusiasm kicked, he felt the smallest feeling of a connection with the audience and he wanted more. He persisted and decided to keep going back every week. Sadly the same fear kicked in every week until finally he started thinking of his audience and embraded his fear. His fear was blocking his progress, so he turned it into a song and used it to connect with his audience so they could feel what he was feeling and over time he stopped singing the song about his fear as his fear was gone. There is not much that I think he could have done differently. The only other option...
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...Use rhythm, music and singing to tune IN your students to working WITH you and tune OUT the worries and distractions of other thoughts. 30 seconds of a good backing track can engage a class far more quickly than 30 minutes of our voice and instructions. They tend over time to ‘tune out’ our voices. Music instantly engages. Rhythm, music and singing help build a collaborative ‘group’ identity – the ‘singing tribe’. Call – Response patterns that emphasise rhythm and sound. eg: 1) Warm ups – French Boom Chicka Boom – (see pdf) • Using praise praises for the whole class to chant ‘well done’ to good contributors • Get the children to take over the ‘Call’ function as soon as possible from you. You are modelling skills and empowering them to model to each other as well. Children leading others is a very powerful re-inforcer and motivator. 2) Injecting backing tracks into lessons at key points • allows you ‘pick up’ or ‘calm down’ a lesson depending upon the mood. • allows you to overlay any lyrical content that you want to highlight from your lesson. • You can use songs from Sing Up website but you can also simply use the backing tracks of some key songs Example Let’s Dance backing track from Sing Up website Suggest some lyrics to practise to this track from any work you have done today. Can you see a way in which children could be asked to suggest some simple lyrics that summarise key points of a lesson...
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