As a singer who had studied with a teacher (who shall remain nameless and so that I can keep a civil tongue) who didn't know a darn thing about vocal technique, I had virtually no experience with head voice - I sang in chest as high as I could go until moving into my thirties when pure muscle would no longer suffice. I woke up and studied under Jerry Pope for my doctoral work at Florida State University. The man is a miracle - a great set of ears and the background knowledge to support them. For the most part, he bases his method on using consonant and vowel combinations in offered vocalises to achieve the sound for which he is looking. For an integrated sound, he starts his students with descending vocalises (yeah, yeah, yeah - I know - many of you think this leads to a weak upper register, but this is simply untrue) based on alternating oo and ee vowels. His initial work with this vocalise is to integrate the registers, equalize resonance, add depth to the voice and initiate the voice with breath rather than muscle (simple idea, unfortunately rarely heard).
As for books, his doctoral students are required to sleep with Vennard under their pillows.
Mark
"Sing on the interest, not on the principal" - Florence Page Kimball, to her student Leontyne Price "The voice is not a fist." - Fritz Wunderlich "I sing with a slim voice." - Birgit Nilsson
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On Wed, 15 Jan 2003, Anthony Howden wrote:
> > Hey I have a question. How long did it take for you to strengthen your head > voice Mark. Also who did you study with or what books did you read to > aid you? THANKS > Anthony
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