To: VOCALIST <vocalist>
From: Karen
Subject: RE: teachers: your technique, in a nutshell
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

A nutshell is a small place, but here goes:
I start from where the student is. The voice is a collection of
puzzle pieces which are thrown at once (like dice) to form a vocal picture,
but not all the pieces are well formed. Usually there is one driving force
which may be identified as a psycho-physiological entity. Personality has
a strong part in determining vocal emphasis. My perfectionist, driven,
pleaser-personality students are usually very tense. My phlegmatic,
laisser-faire students need energising. A balance is needed. Then I work to
correct any 'helping' from body parts that need not be involved:e.g.
jutting jaw, retracted tongue, pushing from abdominals in the first part
of a phrase, contracted forehead, pulled down upper lip, pushing because
the singer is emoting etc. etc. The letting go of these extra 'helps' is
necessary for the discovery of what should be driving the voice: appogio
"la lotta vocale" between the muscles of inhalation and the mucles of
exhalation.
first third of a phase: the external intercostals act to prevent
rib-cage collapse
the abs gently assist
second third of a phase: float.
last third of a phrase: abs and internal intercostals assist.
All this ensures that the phrase has even air flow.
It is my believe that these breathing muscles 'talk' to the larynx,
allowing it to be comfortably low, cleanly approximating, and producing
resonant free tone. I also use consonants to convince the larynx that it
can remain calm although the lips are closing to produce 'v' 'm' 'b' etc.
That all for now,
Cheers, Karen Jensen
University of Manitoba School of Music