Date sent: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 12:05:56 EST
Subject: Re: how do I sing louder? a response,
To: vocalist
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

Dear List,
It seems as if I need to clarify myself.
I recently posted to a lister who was concerned about the size of his
voice and also that when he tried to sing louder his voice tires easily and
is breathy..........or he loses too much breathe when he is singing..........
As a teacher, my first thoughts were to re-direct his thinking about his
voice.....ie., if he can talk at an acceptable volume, his voice is more than
capable of performing at an acceptable level. Second, if his voice tires
easily and he is running out of air, these are clear signs that the cords are
not closing fully. Furthermore, a breathy voice will cause the larynx to rise
with the pitch. And, a high larynx will definitely cause the voice to tire
quickly,..........these are technical problems that have an easy remedy.
Regardless, of illness, allergies, mis-communication, there are simple
exercises that will get his cords to adduct fully and quickly without any
massive effort on his part ( in fact, sometimes a voice that is slightly
swollen from illness or allergies may in the short term adduct more easily
becuase there is more mass to "vibrate", although I would never advocate
performing strenuously with a sick voice)
Although, I am very careful to not "diss" another teacher, keeping the
cords "closed" and the larynx stable are all common denominators of healthy
singing that every teacher should be addressing regardless of the "name" of
the technique we are using.
Healthy Singing to all and Merry Christmas,
Mary Beth Osborn