On Dec.1 Robin Frye Wrote:
> - I do teach, and practice myself, a comfortably raised
> soft palate.
> - Having said that, I also teach, and practice myself,
> the use of a judicious amount of nasal resonance, which
> also increases ring. Nasal resonance and a gently
> raised soft palate are not mutually exclusive, but a
> hyperextended soft palate will close off the nasal
> port.
Dear Listers:
This topic caught my eye as I looked through the old postings.
When we as singers allow air to pass through the nose, we then add
the nasal cavity to the rest of the vocal tract. Anytime air passes
through the nares during singing (except during consonant production)
the velum or soft palate is in a relaxed/low position, thus opening
the velopharyngeal port. If we speak it in physiological way: when
nasal resonance is present in the sound(use of nasal cavity), the
soft palate CANNOT be in a raised position at all.
True "ring" comes in a voice that has separated the nasal cavity
from the vocal tract. In addition, the effect nasal resonance has on
laryngeal position is important as well. As the soft palate is
raised- the larynx lowers, and vice versa. I'm sure that we would
all agree that a hallmark of fine singing has always been a stable or
comfortably low larynx- do we not?
Robin wrote:
And I was extremely
> dismayed to see the recent article on this topic in the
> NATS Journal. Dismayed, but not surprised, because
> teachers and singers tend to be firmly in one camp or
> the other on this one, and it is one of the most
> controversial aspects of vocal technique.
>
Right on Robin- This topic is extremely controversial in the
field. It is unfortunate that the artical did not appeal to you. In
the article the author presents not what HE believes to be true about
nasal resonance- but, what acoustic analysis and other valued
teachers like Garcia and Tosi said about the subject. Whether we use
nasal resonance or not, the effects of nasal resonance are clearly
observable in the article's data. In this simple sharing of
information, science may actually help us as teachers.
It is important for all of us as voice teachers to learn in-depth
the anatomy and physiology of the vocal mechanism. This will help us
become more effective teachers and dispell confusion in the
profession. I for one am lucky to be studying with the article's
author, who, with the exception of Titze, is one of the only true
voice scientists around.
Take Care All,
Taylor L. Ferranti
DMA Candidate in Vocal Pedagogy
LSU
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