Vocalist.org archive


From:  Dr Colin D Reed <colin.reed@e...>
Date:  Mon Apr 3, 2000  10:32 am
Subject:  RE: [vocalist-temporary] Does tension in the nostrils affect the sound of the voice?


>===== Original Message From vocalist-temporary@o... =====
>Hello, everyone!
>My new teacher has been trying to get more "ping" in my rather
>muffled voice for the last weeks. During the last lesson, she
>discovered that whenever I want to achieve a better placement for my
>voice, especially in notes that are high for me, I blow up my
>nostrils, thus making the sound even duller and tinier. When she told
>me to forget about my nostrils, things worked wonderfully: my voice
>gained high and low frequencies at the same time, the pronunciation
>was clearer and more natural. Alas, it lasted only for five minutes!
>Against my will, I went back to my old way of singing, only now it's
>worse than before. I'm not so worried about that backlash - I suppose
>everybody went through this kind of experience. What I'd like to know
>is whether anybody has ever noticed that correlation between a
>muffled, small sounding voice and tension in the nostrils? Or is it
>just me and my anatomy?
>If this question is familiar to any of you I'd appreciate to share
>your knowledge with me!
>Jan
>

I wouldn't worry about it being your nostrils in particular. They are
probably just an outward sign of other tensions. What is most likely is
tongue tension. Pulling down on the tongue will cause your soft palate to
lower, and make a less brilliant sound. What I supspect you need is some form
of diversionary tactic to take your mind away from all of these areas. Try
focusing on keeping you legs straight, but with the feeling that the backs of
your knees are soft, to prevent you locking them. Also try relaxing/releasing
your bottom/bum/butt/fanny* (*please choose appropriate colloquialism for your
country). This should help keep your sound grounded and relaxed. If you want
to raise your soft palate, try thinking about the top of your pelvis as a
dome, and also the backs of your hands as domes. I find that this then tends
to mirror itself in raising the roof of your mouth into a similar dome.

Unfortunately, I would have to say that you can't learn these things from a
book or from the internet. You really have to experience them with a good
teacher.

Colin

Colin Reed, Tenor
Newark, UK
Tel: +44 1636 706158
Mobile: +44 973 952447


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