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Session IV Voice Building: Articulation. Stephen F. Austin, M.M., Ph.D. Associate Professor of Voice University of North Texas. Calisthenics for the Voice.
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Session IVVoice Building: Articulation Stephen F. Austin, M.M., Ph.D. Associate Professor of Voice University of North Texas The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
Calisthenics for the Voice • The ‘historical school’ of voice training approached the vocal instrument in the same way as any other instrument: through graded, progressive study of articulation and interval patterns. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
1. Sustainedtones • Most 19th C. methods begin here • Always begin with the low voice • Procede by whole or half steps • At least an octave The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
Franz Abt: ‘Practical Singing Tutor’ The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
Benefits: • 1) Strengthens intrinsic musculature - isometric exercises for the TA and the CT. • 2) Especially helpful in building the low mechanism (chest voice). • 3) Simplicity of the gesture provides opportunity to address breath and support, pure vowel, posture, facial repose, etc. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
2. Portamento • The portamento as an introduction to legato • Tosi: ‘without a good portamento “all other diligence falls short” • Mancini: ‘should be taught immediately after the full voice has been established’ (Manuel Garcia; Complete Treatise on the Art of Singing, 1847.) The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
Manuel Garcia: ‘The Complete Treatise on the Art of Singing’ (1841) The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
Manuel Garcia: ‘The Complete Treatise on the Art of Singing’ (1841) The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
3. Benefits: • 1) Trains a smooth coordination between the TA and the CT • 2) Trains a constant breath flow - support • 3) Provides the opportunity to focus on vowel quality, posture, facial repose, etc. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
4. Legato • “Portamento provides the technical foundation for connecting the tones without ‘sliding’ - legato. These exercises take many forms” (Luigi Lablache; Exercises for Soprano or Tenor, 1852.) The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
Luigi Lablache: Exercises for Soprano or Tenor (1852) The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
Benefits: • 1) Promotes coordination between intrinsic muscles of the larynx and those of the respiratory system. • 2) Builds endurance! • 3) Use of a metronome is extremely helpful and develops a strict sense of time and organized movement within the larynx The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
Other Interval Studies • these are numerous and take many forms: The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
Cinti-Damoreau: ‘Method of Singing’ (1849) The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
Cinti-Damoreau: ‘Method of Singing’ (1849) The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
Benefits: • 1) Develops register unification, equalization of power (especially after the voce chiusa has been established). • 2) De-sensitizes the singer to ‘high’ and ‘low’ • 3) Further development of support, ‘appoggio’ (greatest danger is an intentional increase of support for the high notes!) • 4) Must include vowel work, facial repose, body tensions, etc. • 5. Mirror work is crucial! Only way to get a handle on extraneous tensions in head/neck, tongue, face, etc. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
The great “Rossini Scale”: Cinti-Damoreau The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
5. Onset • Controversial • Many 19th C sources promote Garcia’s definition of the Coupe de la Glotte • Vocal folds are in full contact prior to phonation • Detractors claim practice ruins voices • Proponents claim that the correct balance of closing effort and breath pressure provides a clear, ringing quality that cannot be accomplished with other concepts; ‘coordinated onset’, ‘balanced onset’, etc. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
Carlo Bassini; Art of Singing, (1856) The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
Benefits: • 1). Trains the intrinsic muscles responsible for opening/closing the glottis. These muscles are critical for firm closure - the source for ‘ring’ in the voice • 2). Encourages proper balance of respiratory support forces The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
6. Staccato • Garcia described it as being produced with a continuous air supply and with the larynx interrupting the air flow and releasing it immediately. It is not produced with the support mechanism. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
Luigi Lablache: Exercises for Soprano or Tenor (1852) The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
Luigi Lablache: Exercises for Soprano or Tenor (1852) The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
Benefits: • Trains intrinsic muscles “openers & closers” • Promotes ‘firm closure’ • Creates ‘ring’ in the voice • Trains a fundamental musical gesture The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
7. Marcato • Garcia described it as being produced with uninterrupted tone with modulated breath. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
Carlo Bassini: “Art of Singing” (1856) The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007
Combined: The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop - 2007