Lloyd wrote:
> The opening or closing of the velopharyngeal port is not
>necessarily conditional on the concept of "raising the palate" as
>is taught in many singing techniques. In short, it is possible to
>raise the palate with the velopharyngeal port open or closed.
Dear Lloyd and list,
This sounds like a physiological impossibilty to me- and I rarely
disagree with you. Unless the person has a congenitally short
palate, which prevents total closure of the velopharyngeal port, it
does not seem possible to have a high palate and an open port
simultaneously, in a person with normal palate function. Velar
height is influenced by consonant production and tongue position.
But, if a singer is holding a tone with a high palate,(no nasal
coupling) then the port is closed. In essence, it appears that "you
can't have your cake(high palate/open port) and eat it(sing it)"-
without nasality being introduced.
Quoting Zemlin's book: Speech and Hearing Science
"CLOSURE of the velopharyngeal port is achieved by ELEVATING
and retracting the soft palate. The posterior wall may well move
anteriorly to meet the soft palate in some individuals and may be
seen as a compensatory gesture in instances of a short palate."
Lloyd, if you can point me to a source in the pedagogy/science
literature that contends what Zemlin says above, I would be
grateful.
Take Care All,
Taylor L. Ferranti
DMA Candidate in Vocal Pedagogy
Louisiana State University
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