| From: "Lloyd W. Hanson" <lloyd.hanson@n...> "Lloyd W. Hanson" <lloyd.hanson@n...> Date: Thu Nov 30, 2000 6:08 am Subject: Re: (unknown)
| Hello Wah and Vocalisters:
I seriously question the conclusion that a view of the vocal folds will enable a precise and therefore accurate determination of the correct vocal range or category for a singer. Although I am most interested in the information made obtained with the kinds of body scans that are now becoming available, it is extremely simplistic to assume that vocal fold lengths can be categorized to determine vocal ranges with any degree of finite accuracy. General assumptions can be made such as basses have longer and thicker vocal folds than tenors but any kind of subdivision beyond that general characterization is not likely to be possible.
Nor, is it necessary. It is not difficult to determine the general vocal category of a singer after a few lessons as long as that category is kept general. Dividing female or male voices beyond the general categories of high, medium and low is not necessary until the student develops enough basic technique to sing a consistent quality of tone in a lyric phrase. All voice categories must learn to sing in all of their registers regardless of where those register lie. It is the location of passaggi (registers) that determine more than anything else the vocal category that the singers voice will finally achieve.
It is true that very often the ambitions of a voice teacher or the student will lead them to attempt performances of music that is ill suited for the voice. This is more a reflection of desire than reality.
It is also not uncommon for a voice to be placed into a heavier vocal category because the tonal color of the voice is richer than the other voices in a studio or a school. This is simply a lack of perspective on the part of the teacher or the student because they have not had enough experience with professional voices to make accurate comparisons possible.
All of these mistakes can be avoided if the teacher and student will resist early categorization of a voice as long as possible. Providing music that will sound good in the voice and is achievable while the student acquires his/her basic technique is the best manner of allowing the voice to find its own category. The quality of tone produced by a young singer is the least reliable indicator of vocal category.
I cannot tell you how often I have taught small voices which became large voices as their technique developed. I no longer think it is even mildly possible to determine vocal categories when hearing young singers. I even question the viability of determining the potential of a voice in a young singer. I have observed too many average voices become superior voices as they continue diligent study with their teachers.
It must be kept in mind that much of the research in this area of vocal fold length has been done with speaking voices, not singers. Researchers are not necessarily familiar with the register phenomena that is a part of every singers experience. Use of a true head voice or high voice is often considered as a potentially pathological condition by many speech scientists yet it is an essential part of the training of the singer.
Regards -- Lloyd W. Hanson, DMA Professor of Voice, Vocal Pedagogy School of Performing Arts Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ 86011
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