Hi, David,
I don't usually jump into technical discussions except to ask a question, but this technical problem is one I've been bugged with for my whole singing life. I have FINALLY found the way to blend the registers, - at least it works for me. This is founded on - ok, get your flame throwers ready - Cornelius Reid's principles, as taught by Conrad Osborne, a former student of Cornelius' and a wonderful teacher and writer.
I start with easy low chest voice exercises on one note, sustaining it and flipping the tongue easily to make Ahhh La La La La. Stay in chest range, don't push for volume. Then starting on about d an octave above middle c sing a 5-note scale down with an easy onset, a "light, delicate" sound, as Conrad puts it. It's really just unpushed head voice, with enough compression to keep the sound from being breathy. Sing a few of these, proceeding downward past the break. Stay in that "gear" and don't let chest come in. Then do it again, and when you get to the bottom note, crescendo gently, staying in the head voice, not allowing chest to enter until it absolutely has to. Occasionally go back down to do an easy chest voice excercise as above.
When the bottom note of the 5-note scale is solid, doesn't crack or break too soon into chest, START with that and go up 5 steps or an arpeggio. Start at the break or just above. Then do it again, starting below the break. It took me months to get this sequence without the voice doing ugly things at the break, but man, it's working. The high notes are not too heavy, the middle is strong, there's no break now between registers. There are practically an infinite number of variations - go octaves instead of 5 steps; do arpeggios instead of scales, whatever. But the principle is to build from the top into the middle, and then from the bottom into the middle, strengthening the weak head voice register near the break and using that strength to balance against the stronger chest. This has been miraculous for me. Hope it helps!
Susan ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Grogan" <dgrogan@e...> To: <vocalist-temporary@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2003 10:35 AM Subject: [vocalist] Exercises for blending registers...
> I enjoyed the discussion of onsets, and various exercises that people use > for initiating tone. What sorts of exercises do you use for the blending of > registers (or bridging the passaggio)? I know that I am more comfortable > teaching this to guys than I am girls. Anyone want to share some of their > exercises that work for you? > > Thanks in advance, > David Grogan > Longview, Texas > > > > > >
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