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From:  Greypins@a...
Greypins@a...
Date:  Sat Dec 8, 2001  6:18 am
Subject:  balanced onset; does it really exist?


the term 'balanced' implies 'in the middle', 'of equal portion' and 'both
together'. onset means beginning. in singing, the term is used in
reference to how the sound of the voice is begun. i have heard it said by
some proponents of 'balanced onset' that it means the air and the
'engagement' of the folds begin simultaneously (i wouldn't blame other
proponents of balanced onset if they wished to distance themselves from such
a description).

to the point, the breath is the only actuator of the voice. in other
words, until the breath starts, the sound doesn't. before the breath
starts, the folds are either adducted (closed) or not. if the folds are
closed before the breath starts, the onset is considered 'glottal'. if they
are open, the onset should be considered 'aspirate'. i say 'should' because
that is the only other possibility.

so what is meant by 'balanced onset'? as the folds can not actuate
themselves, there is no 'glorious simultaneous onset of breath and vocal fold
vibration'. so, there is no 'balance' in the true sense of the word.
however, as in the use of hand grenades, we can come close. the two
posibilities for something close to a 'balanced onset' are; a glottal attack
where the folds are adducted with as little tension as possible in the
muscles that effect adduction or, an aspirate attack where the vibration of
the folds begins as immediately as possible after the breath has begun.
vennard advocates the latter and, i suspect most classical style teachers
would also. as a teacher of non classical singers, teaching mostly speech
based styles, as speaking involves both, i advocate both.

mike


  Replies Name/Email Yahoo! ID Date Size
15824 Re: balanced onset; does it really exist? Lloyd W. Hanson   Sat  12/8/2001   5 KB
15825 Re: balanced onset; does it really exist? Greypins@a...   Sat  12/8/2001   4 KB
15829 Re: balanced onset; does it really exist? buzzcen@a...   Sat  12/8/2001   2 KB
15831 Re: balanced onset; does it really exist? Lloyd W. Hanson   Sat  12/8/2001   4 KB
15837 Re: balanced onset; does it really exist? Greypins@a...   Sat  12/8/2001   2 KB
15856 Re: balanced onset; does it really exist? buzzcen@a...   Sun  12/9/2001   2 KB
15857 Re: balanced onset; does it really exist? Greypins@a...   Sun  12/9/2001   3 KB
15865 Re: balanced onset; does it really exist? buzzcen@a...   Mon  12/10/2001   3 KB

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