Date sent: Wed, 26 Jan 2000 18:07:07 EST
Subject: Re: Exercises for Breathy Singers
To: vocalist
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

In a message dated 01/26/2000 2:06:05 PM Central Standard Time,
RALUCOB-at-aol.com writes:

<< i disagree with ascertion that breathiness is a trapping of youth. most
young girls (who generally seem to be the ones afflicted with breathiness)
are very capable of making all sorts of clear noises when talking, giggling,
squealing,etc.. however, when it comes to singing, they want to make it
'pretty' so, they use breath the way my late uncle jim used to use ketchup-
they dump it on everything!
>>

Well, it is been scientifically proven that adolescent girls also go through
development of the vocal tract, but not as radically as boys do. There is
sometimes a gap known as a "mutational chink" that afflicts teenage girls,
causing them to be somewhat breathy. One of my girls, who started studying
with me at 13, was pleased to hear that so that she could tell people, "That
breathiness? That's just my mutational chink!" Shut them up quick enough.

:)

Chris Thomas
Mezzo-Soprano
Wauwatosa, WI

"I love to sing-a, about the moon-a and the June-a and the spring-a"