Dear Whomever:
I would suggest that you try a breath onset (breath before sound) and
then a glottal onset (sound preceded by a glottal attack as in the
expression "uh uh" when disapproving). The breathy and glottal
onsets are the opposite extremes of onset use and are not recommended
generally but do help the singer define onset problems. The ideal
onset is midway between the breathy and glottal onset.
Often those who tense the base of the tongue with the onset of tone
also tend to begin the tone with some form of the glottal onset. If
you tend to do use a glottal onset it is necessary for you to move in
the direction of a breathy onset.
It is most important when practicing onsets that the singer give
minimal consideration to tone quality. The tone that appears
immediately after a correct onset is the singers most natural tone
quality and this quality should be allowed and encouraged by the
singer and teacher. It is most common to observe a singer create a
correct onset and immediately alter the resultant tone to meet the
singers idea of how they think they should sound. This destroys the
opportunity for the singer to discover his own tone quality.
Good luck on a most rewarding search for you voice and its ease of use.
--
Lloyd W. Hanson, DMA
Professor of Voice and Vocal Pedagogy, Emeritus
Director of Opera-Theatre, 1987-1997
College of Fine Arts (formerly, School of Performing Arts)
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ
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