I have an interesting and confounding situation with my voice. I am a
baritone or bass, usually, and that is the issue. My range in chest
voice starts around a low E flat or E, and reaches up a little over 2
octaves to F, or G. These parameters vary depending on the day, as I
suppose is the case with most organic musical instruments. I'll cut
to the chase: once in a while (maybe every couple of weeks or so,
probably less, usually for a day or three), my entire vocal range
seems to shift down, so my low note will be a B flat or so (sometimes
a tich lower), and my top notes shift down too.
I will admit, or warn, that I have an untrained voice, but I have done
some exercises on my own, and have read various bits of literature
that I think prepare me well conceptually for the proper use of my
voice. Just so you know, I am currently involved in a musical theatre
production of Annie (I'm Daddy Warbucks), which is a totally new
experience for me, never having really sung in public performance
before. (Tons of crooning around the household, though.) (I'm 26, to
round out my bio.)
This phenomenon of the lowered voice is interesting, and I'd like an
explanation, if you please. It's not hoarseness - my voice feels very
relaxed and comfortable, "juicier" than usual, and it's not from
singing a lot or screaming the night before. It's not from staying up
late, drinking, or smoking, or a cold. It's not from excess phlegm; I
feel no need to clear my throat, etc. It's not a morning voice; it
can last all day, even after quite a bit of singing all through my
range. It's not raspy, nor is it woofy. The mechanism of voice
production, as far as I can tell, feels pretty much the same as any
other day (which I think is reasonably relaxed, and pretty strong,
though I know I do have excess tension when I'm in my upper chest
voice). My voice doesn't feel heavy, or sluggish, or thick. My low
notes, in fact, are much more resonant and brighter than usual. One
factor that I've noticed is that this phenomenon happens after I've
done a good dose of exercise the day before; not necessarily
strenuous, a good few hour hike will suffice. However, as far as I
know, my voice doesn't always drop the day after such exercise, and
sometimes it drops without the exercise.
My high notes sound like they usually do; it's just that they peter
out about a fourth lower than they usually do.
I enjoy this phenomenon, because my voice feels and sounds more
supple, richer and more resonant. The one thing that I suppose is a
bit annoying is those high notes that composers and audiences love are
not as easy. However, I think that's nothing a bit (or a lot) of
training can't fix.
My surmise is that this voice change has to do with breathing and
relaxation, generally speaking. Specifically speaking, I have no
idea. Do you? How do I reliably reproduce this state of vocal
production? I know this could be a huge topic, but do you have any
general technique pointers/exercises for me?
Thanks a lot, it's very appreciated.
|
