Vocalist.org archive


From:  "Lloyd W. Hanson" <lloyd.hanson@n...>
Date:  Fri Oct 25, 2002  4:02 am
Subject:  Re: [vocalist] Falsetto Pedagogy vs SLS, was Re: Head to Chest transition

Dear Michael and Vocalistes:

I would agree with your assessment that falsetto is seldom a useful
device to learn to sing in the "high" voice. The singer must learn
to sing in head voice. Head voice is not falsetto. Head voice is
not an extension of chest voice. Head voice is not a mix of chest
voice and falsetto. Head voice is a configuration of the vocal folds
and a concurrent acoustic adjustment of the vocal tract that is
unique to itself and, when learned and used, a continuation of enough
of the quality of the chest voice such that the listener is not aware
of a major change out of chest voice. Some prefer to call head voice
the light mechanism as against chest voice as the heavy mechanism but
this creates a false idea that head voice has less compression or is
sung with less subglottal pressure or uses a faster air flow past the
vocal folds or borders on breathy etc. Head voice is a ringing,
brilliant and intensely emotional vocal quality that is produced by
strong longitudinal tension of the vocal folds and a matching
acoustic adjustment of the vocal tract which emphasizes a wide
harmonic spectrum above the fundamental with a pronounced peak in the
2800-3200 Hrz portion of the harmonic spectrum. It is most often
encountered in those who sing opera because of the need for such a
high degree of emotional vocalism and the ability to be heard
acoustically over a large orchestra. Head voice is, however, able to
be sung in the most heart rending mezzo voce or half voice quality
which only adds to the intensity of its effect through its innate
ability to understate the high degree of emotion. that is present.

--
Lloyd W. Hanson






emusic.com