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
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