Leslie wrote :
<< Some of this may be that I had a horror of high notes for years and am
just
now feeling really easy with F's and G's (top of staff ). I also have a
problem with my larynx raising, but I don't know what to do about it. I
sort
of naturally "pout" my lips when I sing, especially high notes, maybe I am
subconsciously trying to lengthen my vocal tract and add lower partials.>>
Your larynx raising may be the main cause of your shrill (your word) high
notes. Pouting your lips may be an attempt to compensate for the larynx
raising. I don't think it can improve your high notes, but it might increase
the impedance of your vocal tract, thus relaxing your larynx?
Anyhow, your problem will not disappear before your larynx can remain
stable. Unsurprisingly, this is a breath support issue. But it can be
addressed in many ways: voiced consonants through the passaggio, sirens,
onset exercises alla Miller, staccato ascending patterns followed by a
descending legato line, crescendo from a very light head tone on a
descending pattern, passaggio notes started on closed vowels followed by
open ones... Your teacher shall be your best guide!
The main idea to get is that your breath shall never go up with the notes.
The resonance may get and feel higher and higher (but not forward), but your
breath support should get and feel lower and lower at the same time.
Some exercises may have you visualize this through the use of a rubber band.
Some gestures can also help: for example, joining your hands in front of
your chest or mouth, and letting them go down while opening your arms very
freely when you reach the highest note of a pattern, in order to "tell" your
diaphragm that it must expand and stay low on these high notes. Also
squatting down when going up and vice versa...
| Alain Zürcher, Paris, France
| L'Atelier du Chanteur :
| http://chanteur.net
|
