Singing & SpeakingSinging & Speaking Are very personalAre very personal Communicate with othersCommunicate with others Use the same mechanismUse the same mechanism Use a wide pitch rangeUse a wide pitch range Need posture to project wellNeed posture to project well Need breath energy to project wellNeed breath energy to project well Are learned by long term practice (playful Are learned by long term practice (playful

exploration)exploration) Are possible for anyone without specific physical or Are possible for anyone without specific physical or

mental disabilitiesmental disabilities

Four elements for successful singing Four elements for successful singing (Bridges)(Bridges)

Focused listeningFocused listening Tonal memoryTonal memory Flexible vocal chordsFlexible vocal chords Muscle coordination of ears, brain, and vocal Muscle coordination of ears, brain, and vocal

chordschords

Six stages for successful pitch Six stages for successful pitch matching (Bennett)matching (Bennett)

Explore speaking voice and what it can doExplore speaking voice and what it can do Describe the sound of one’s own or another’s Describe the sound of one’s own or another’s

voicevoice Copy (match) the quality & range of another’s Copy (match) the quality & range of another’s

voicevoice Learn specific labels to identify quality and Learn specific labels to identify quality and

range of voicesrange of voices Produce sounds that fit (match) specific labelsProduce sounds that fit (match) specific labels Match a specific pitchMatch a specific pitch

Thoughts on SingingThoughts on Singing

EVERYONE has musical ability. EVERYONE has musical ability. EVERYONE CAN LEARN TO SINGEVERYONE CAN LEARN TO SING

Singing is a psychomotor skill. Accurate Singing is a psychomotor skill. Accurate singing is a matter of practice, of training the singing is a matter of practice, of training the brain to coordinate breathing muscles, vocal brain to coordinate breathing muscles, vocal cords, and ear (inner hearing or pitch memory)cords, and ear (inner hearing or pitch memory)

breathingbreathing

Correct breathing occurs when you imagine Correct breathing occurs when you imagine sipping air through a straw, when you lie flat sipping air through a straw, when you lie flat on the floor, when the diaphragm expands on the floor, when the diaphragm expands down as you lungs fill with airdown as you lungs fill with air

postureposture

Open and balanced posture is essential to Open and balanced posture is essential to healthy vocal production (speaking & singing)healthy vocal production (speaking & singing)

Images to help align body postureImages to help align body posture Stretching to hang clothes on a clotheslineStretching to hang clothes on a clothesline Reaching something high on a shelfReaching something high on a shelf Being a puppet on a stringBeing a puppet on a string

Vocal qualitiesVocal qualities

The human voice can become very flexibleThe human voice can become very flexible Different vocal qualities are considered Different vocal qualities are considered

“beautiful” for different kinds of speech and “beautiful” for different kinds of speech and music.music.

Quality of sound is dependent on how freely Quality of sound is dependent on how freely air passes through the vocal cords, and where air passes through the vocal cords, and where the sound is resonating (head, throat, or chest the sound is resonating (head, throat, or chest cavity)cavity)

Vocal ExplorationsVocal Explorations

Distinguish voices (speaking, singing, whispering, Distinguish voices (speaking, singing, whispering, shouting)shouting)

Animal sounds (meow, whimper, woof, etc.)Animal sounds (meow, whimper, woof, etc.) Silly voices (Queen of England, tape recorder on low Silly voices (Queen of England, tape recorder on low

batteries, etc.)batteries, etc.) Expand vocal range (siren, sigh, foghorn, etc.)Expand vocal range (siren, sigh, foghorn, etc.) Develop inner hearing (think words or melody Develop inner hearing (think words or melody

internally, but only externally create part, hand signs)internally, but only externally create part, hand signs) Draw pictures to represent soundsDraw pictures to represent sounds

OstinatiOstinati

Characteristics of the Characteristics of the young voiceyoung voice

Pre-K & Kindergarten (4&5)Pre-K & Kindergarten (4&5)

Soft & light voicesSoft & light voices Difficulty singing in tuneDifficulty singing in tune Range from D-A, or D-DRange from D-A, or D-D Chants & tonal patternsChants & tonal patterns Short melodies (Major, minor, or pentatonic)Short melodies (Major, minor, or pentatonic) One note per syllableOne note per syllable

Pre-K & Kindergarten (con’t.)Pre-K & Kindergarten (con’t.)

Can sing with a steady beatCan sing with a steady beat Can sing rhythmic patterns accuratelyCan sing rhythmic patterns accurately Can sing softly and loudlyCan sing softly and loudly Can sing melodies with or without Can sing melodies with or without

accompanimentaccompaniment Enjoy dramatizationEnjoy dramatization

11stst & 2 & 2ndnd grades (6 & 7) grades (6 & 7)

Most voices light & high, but starting to go Most voices light & high, but starting to go lowerlower

Many still working to match pitch (6)Many still working to match pitch (6) Able to sing short phrases in tune (7)Able to sing short phrases in tune (7) Begin to understand high vs. lowBegin to understand high vs. low Can sustain a single pitchCan sustain a single pitch Range expands from D-B or D-D Range expands from D-B or D-D

11stst & 2 & 2ndnd grades (6 & 7) – con’t grades (6 & 7) – con’t

Know difference from shouting & singing Know difference from shouting & singing voicesvoices

Develop understanding of breathDevelop understanding of breath Can sing in major, minor and pentatonicCan sing in major, minor and pentatonic Call and response songsCall and response songs Awareness of dynamics and tempo changesAwareness of dynamics and tempo changes Can sing from simple notationCan sing from simple notation

33rdrd & 4 & 4thth grades (8 & 9) grades (8 & 9)

Most can sing in tuneMost can sing in tune Girls’ voices still lightGirls’ voices still light Use of rounds, partner songs, and descantsUse of rounds, partner songs, and descants Begin to control expressive qualities – legato, Begin to control expressive qualities – legato,

dynamics, etc.dynamics, etc. Some can begin to harmonize melodies by earSome can begin to harmonize melodies by ear Involvement of more complex rhythmsInvolvement of more complex rhythms

55thth & 6 & 6thth grades (10 & 11) grades (10 & 11)

Boys voices become more resonantBoys voices become more resonant Greater ability to sing multi-part songsGreater ability to sing multi-part songs Stronger sense of rhythm Stronger sense of rhythm Imitate pop singersImitate pop singers Expanded range as a result of voice changesExpanded range as a result of voice changes Ability to read notation*Ability to read notation*

Focus areas for ImprovementFocus areas for Improvement

PosturePosture Good breathing habitsGood breathing habits Use of head voiceUse of head voice Matching pitchMatching pitch

Vocal AnatomyVocal Anatomy

http://www.ucdvoice.org/voice%20anat.htmlhttp://www.ucdvoice.org/voice%20anat.html http://www.lionsvoiceclinic.umn.edu/page2.hthttp://www.lionsvoiceclinic.umn.edu/page2.ht

m#vfpitchm#vfpitch