BOHEMIAN VOCAL STUDIO
VOWELMODIFICATIONCHEAT-SHEET
Simply BETTER singing.
CHEAT-SHEET OUTLINEOUR DISCUSSION POINTS
Behind BVS3 Keys to all great singing
Vowel shapingVowel Modification
Cheat SheetWord references
Tonal IntentVowel compressionRegister gradients
In your dreamsThe key to vocal success
Overview
I've been singing for over 20 years now, and coachingprofessionally for well over a decade. I have to say though, Iactually took singing lessons for YEARS before someonereally sat me down and said - "mate, you're doing everythingwrong". This might sound harsh, but it was a life changingexperience to have someone be HONEST with me instead ofjust throwing another exercise or scale at my issues andtelling me everything would be fine, or telling me it was "justa baritone thing"
So I'm throwing vocal-truth-bombs at you to help you moveforward and make the vocal progress that took me years ofstruggle and straining (and thousands of dollars) to master.
BEHIND BVSKEGAN'S STORY
3 KEYS TO GREAT VOICEAIRFLOWAirflow. Diaphragmatic Breathing. Compression. Support. There's a reasonthat there's so much importance put on support and airflow in every singlevocal method out there - when it comes to great singing, it's all about theairflow.
VIBRATIONuninterrupted, beautiful, strain-free vibration and resonance gives youexactly that - uninterrupted, beautiful, strain-free singing
RESONANCEThis one is a kettle of fish (hence this guide), but in short - learning to singyour vowels in an open, resonant way instead of just forcing words out ofyour mouth is the key to not just "getting through a song", but absolutelyraising the roof with your vocal performance.
VOWEL SHAPINGAH (AA/OH) - AY (EE/OU) - OO
Shaping your pure vowel in the initial stageof developing your voice is one of the mostrudimentary - but powerfully importantingredients for vocal growth. Without acorrectly formed vowel, vowel modification isthen rendered impossible.
AH based vowels (AH/AA/OH) are formedwith the tongue low and concave
AY based vowels (AY/EE/OU) are formedwith the centre of the tongue raised
VOWEL MODIFICATIONNEUTRAL/WIDE/NARROWING/NARROW
Vowel modification occurs predominantly in the vocal tractspace created in the pharynx when you raise the soft palate.Varying width within this space helps you 'ping' the rightvocal overtone for each register. Each width comes with atonal alteration to your pure vowel sound;
Registers: Chest Voice/Chest Mix/Head Mix/HeadWidth: Neutral/Wider/Narrowing/NarrowTonal intent: Bright/Mixed/Cry/BrightAH based vowels: Hard/Hawed/Heard/Who'dAY based vowels: Hey/Head/Hid/Heed
WHY MODIFY YOURVOWELS?
TO INCREASE THE POWER & QUALITY OFYOUR RESONANCE EXPONENTIALLY !
CHEST (NEUTRAL)In chest voice your resonant space
is neutral and the full body of the
vocal folds vibrates with full
contraction of the TA muscle
CHEST MIX (WIDE)In the first aspect of mixed voice the
soft palate is raised and wide as the
CT muscle starts to engage and a
moderate amount of vocal weight is
dropped
HEAD MIX (NARROWING)The highest aspect of mixed voice
features a narrowed but raised
position of the soft palate as
furtherweight is dropped and the
CT muscle is engaged in a more
dominant fashion
HEAD (NARROW)All weight is dropped from the folds
as you reach predominance of the
CT muscle
CHEATSHEET
TONAL INTENTCHEST VOICE
Aim for an open and bright sound in chest voice - notyour speaking accent.
CHEST MIX
"Classroom Voice" Mixed Tone
HEAD MIX
Add a slight "cry" to your vowel to encourage narrowingof your vocal tract and a slight tilt to the larnyx
HEAD VOICE
Bright "hoot" resonance in the pharynx
STEP 1 - CONNECT
Focus on pure connection
between chest and head voice
with an initial transition around
D4-G4 depending on your voice
type
STEP 2 - RESONATE
Start balancing your airflow and
air pressure with either a subtle
"sigh" when you anticipate
becoming clamped, or a slight
"hold" when you feel airy
STEP 3 - COMPRESS
Add medial compression
through your full range as
needed and 'cry' around your
third vowel overtone as you
start aiming for a fuller tone
COMPRESSION
WORDREFERENCES
AH Based Vowels move along the path ofNeutral/Wider/Narrowing/Narrow, altering theresonant character of the pure AH vowel fromHard to Hawed to Heard to Who'd
AY Based vowels move along the path ofWide/Wider/Narrowing/Narrow, altering theresonant character of the pure AY vowel fromHey to Head to Hid to Heed
AH/AW/OU/OO
AY/EH/IH/EE
REGISTERGRADIENTSMIXED VOICE IS CALLED"MIX" FOR A REASON
Head Voice20%
Head Mix20%
Central Mix20%
Chest Mix20%
Chest Voice20%
The tonal quality of your voice is always agradient moving between chest and headvoice.
"Full Voice" exists in every register and everyvowel overtone. Dragging chest voice, orflipping to falsetto limits the quality of yourresonance and limits your potential for vocalgrowth.
IN YOUR DREAMSTURNING YOUR DREAMS INTO REALITY
Breaking your goals down into smaller 'bite size' chunks isthe most effective way of making actionable progresstowards your dreams while learning how to sing.
Set a "wildest dream" goal - like releasing an album,auditioning for a major band, playing a show for 1000people, singing a D5 in full voice etc.
Then break it down into smaller chunks from the absolutebasics - like mastering a lip trill, mastering breath support,developing the vocal stamina required to sing for a two hourshow - all the way through to contacting a recording studioor filling out that audition application.
GREATFOUNDATION
Foundation is key to
great singing - The Four
Vocal Fundamentals are
your bulletproof
roadmap to success as
a singer
Vowel modification,
compression, practical
application and the finer
points of singing like
articulation and style
choices help you grow a
formidable voice
Set a "wildest dreams"
goal - releasing an
album, auditioning for a
major band; then set
incrementally
progressive goals from
the absolute basics to
create a roadmap for
your bigger picture
GROW YOURRANGE
SET AMBIT IOUSGOALS
THE KEY TO VOCAL SUCCESS
ESTIMATEDANNOUNCE DATES
VOCALGROWTHOVERVIEW
THE BASICSTo create a stunning voice, you absolutely must
first master the basics
THE FOUR VOCAL FUNDAMENTALSAll great singers have mastered The Four Vocal
Fundamentals
VOWEL MODIF ICATIONAlter your resonant space to create a balanced
and powerful vowel overtone
COMPRESSIONManage your airflow and air pressure for a
consistent, powerful and effortless tone
GOAL SETTINGSet short, medium and long term goals
AAI | Pro X
What PeopleHave to Say
ProducerKegan has helped me put the "Singer" into Singer
Songwriter.
Kegan, here’s what a good teacher you are: I just did
slides from C2 to c5 with good connection throughout!
MARYANNE (ROCK S INGER)
Award-Winning Artist
I never thought I'd be able to develop a powerful and
effortless voice for rock and metal, but after taking
regular lessons with Kegan, I've not only met, but
surpassed my expectations and goals.
IVAN (VOICE TEACHER)
Guitarist
It's a 1000% brilliant vocal approach.
Kegan's training also helps me as a voice coach!
MIKE (S INGER/SONGWRITER)
BOOK A SKYPE SESSIONBook a Skype Session with me for personalised
training and a custom vocal plan
BUY FOUNDATION 101Buy my flagship course Foundation 101 to learn the
basics of building a great singing voice
FOUNDATION/GROWTH/SESSIONGo all-in with the best investment you will ever
make in your voice; both of my courses and a
Skype session - for GUARANTEED growth
WHAT NOW?Hit the buttons to takethe next step
VOWEL MODIFICATION Q&AJoin the Vowel Modification Q&A for indepth answers tothe all those burning questions you have about singing
vowels in the right way.
FINAL WORDS Singing is EASY...but only whenyou've beengiven all of thepuzzle pieces
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