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Consonants Need Love Too Lori Lyford, CIF. Consonants. Are they the root of all EVIL and choppy singing? OR The carriers of passion, clarity and meaning?. Our History. Choppy singing MUST be cured! Target the dreaded consonants!!
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Consonants • Are they the root of all EVIL and choppy singing? OR • The carriers of passion, clarity and meaning?
Our History • Choppy singing MUST be cured! • Target the dreaded consonants!! • Minimize unvoiced or “stopped” consonants • Sing from vowel to vowel • Consonant substitution
Consonant Replacement Examples “f” became “v” “k” became “g” “s” became “z” “If they could see me now” became “Iv they good zee me now”
Smooth Singing…at what cost? Unit - each part uses different technique Tenors - sing from vowel to vowel Bari/Bass - smooth out everything Leads - deliver the words…maybe Clarity - Mushy consonants causes loss of lyric clarity Ring - Minimized consonants produce vowels that cannot be fully expanded
The Answer? Air Flow and Articulation! Incorrectly done, these can also be a big part of the problem • Artificial and exaggerated air flow • Breathy tone, unclear lyrics • Over-produced, choppy diction • Lip, jaw, tongue tension
Artificially Connected Soundsor…The Nose Knows • Can’t articulate with your nostrils • Loss of half our power • Can’t make true consonants with half the vocalized air going through your nose
Getting Your Nose OUT of Your Business • Find the valve • Root beer burp • Use “K” sound Kah, Kay, Key, Koh, Kooh • Consciously direct sound out your mouth • Test the sound
Air Flow The breath is the ocean, the voice is the boat which floats on the ocean! Nature gave us the voice, we cannot change it, but we can educate the breath and learn to control it. This constitutes the whole method of singing. “Vocal Wisdom”-Giovanni Lamperti
Bubbling to Move Air • Why • Increases AIR Flow • Opens and relaxes the throat • Brings tone to the front of the mouth • Easier to articulate • Easier to ring
Bubbling • How • Use both lips • Move bottom lip toward the top lip • Firm the corners of your lips • Vibrate the center of the lips • Use the wet part of the lips • Keep the air flowing
Singing and Speaking • Speak-Sing technique - Jim Casey • Speak clearly, as if an orator • Emote, be genuine • Speak the line 3 times in a row • With meaning and inflection • Not in the rhythm of the line • On the 4th time, sing using the same mouth and physical expression as when speaking emphatically
Clarity AND Connection • Matched vowels • Natural, speech-like delivery • Appropriate consonants • Forward, clear, ringing sound • Move AIR and SOUND away from you • Just TALK to me
All this requires is: practice, practice, practice, belief in yourself, and courage!!
Clarity always requires Courage