Date sent: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 10:26:05 EST
Subject: weight lifting and balanced onsets
To: vocalist
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

<< Hello Susi and List:

I have found onset exercises work best to obtain correct closure of the
vocal folds for singing and counteract the effects often found with singers
who lift weights.

The best description of the correct onset exercise procedure and examples of
exercises for their use I have found in Richard Miller's book, "The
Structure of Singing".


Regards
--
Lloyd W. Hanson, DMA >>


Onset exercises are not always the best answer (as a first step) especially
when the student either habitually under or overcompresses the voice. If over
compression exists, I'd shape the behavior towards something that is not so
hyperfunctional (using lip trills, tongue trills, etc.) and then use a
balanced onset. To ask someone to produce a balanced onset when everything
up to that point has been strenuous is asking them to do something that is
most likely unattainable in cases of hyper or hypo function. Better to shape
the behavior in a progressive, stepwise fashion. It's much more efficient
and follows the principles of clinical practice. Using balanced onsets as
the primary exercise in this case is putting the longterm goal before the
short term goal, or in other words, the cart before the horse.

Randy Buescher