> I would be very interested in knowing what kind of
> chest-voice exercises you
> do, and why.
A strong and healthy chest voice will strengthen the
head voice -- I don't know why, but it works. I
generally do these exercises once a week:
1. Three-note scale (12321) on a very forward "ih"
position, with fish-lips (or trumpet-flare lips). The
sensation is very forward and buzzing, through the
front teeth. When moving from note to note, my throat
doesn't feel like it's singing higher, but like the
notes simply buzz more for the next pitch. Very
little sensation in the larynx, lots of sensation in
the teeth and cheekbones.
2. Same scale (12321) on the most forward, bright "ah"
I can manage. Some days I have to resort to aaae as
in cat, some days to a very forward, upper-lip "uh".
If you find that thinking "bright" gives you
"squashed," relax any jaw/neck tension and the sound
will gets its natural depth and darkness.
3. Octaves, 181, with 1 in chest, 8 in head, and 1 in
chest. Ah -- ee -- ah (or, a-i-a for you IPAers). It
sounds remarkably like a donkey's bray. I don't take
this higher than an E4. I keep the chest note forward
and buzzing, and the head note high (by that I mean
that I feel the sensation higher in my head, with
resonance from upper partials I guess) and free. It
is an actual flip, like a yodel, and be very careful
that you are truly flipping into a free (but supported
and strong) head tone, and not dragging the chest
voice up at all.
They strengthen the voice and keep it healthy. Also,
if I am having trouble doing the third exercise, it is
a sign that my voice is not in perfect working order
and I should either rest or do some gentle exercises
to line up the position again. Like falsetto "ooooh"s
high in the register (like [su] on a 123454321 scale),
and octave hums as high as I can go (mm-MM-mm), it is
a good diagnostic tool to make sure your voice is
still healthy and moving in the right direction.
Isabelle B.
=====
Isabelle Bracamonte
San Francisco, CA
ibracamonte@y...
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