I. VOCAL ANATOMY

Sound is actually produced by the pressure changes created when small jets of air pass through moving vocal cords/folds or larynx.

The vocal cords themselves produce only a “buzzing” sound; the resonators are necessary to create music and speech.

Resonators:

• Sinus • Nasal Cavity • Palates (Soft and Hard) • Oral Cavity • Tongue • Pharynx

The articulators are responsible for enunciating the lyrics/words of the song.

Articulators:

• Teeth • Tongue • Palates • Lips

[pic]

II. VOCAL CLASSIFICATION

PITCH

The sound of a note is called a pitch. Each key represents different note or pitch.

The quicker our vocal folds open and close the higher pitch we produce.

VOCAL RANGE

Everyone has a different vocal ability which in (mainly) classical, operatic and theatrical circles is grouped into a classification which is also known as 'vocal fach'.

A singer with a wide vocal range may cover more than one 'fach' and as the voice develops with age, training and experience, the classification into which the singer has initially been grouped may no longer apply.

As general rule:

• SOPRANO high female voice, G3 (below middle C4) to F6 above high C6 although anywhere above high C can be included

• COLORATURA a singer, usually soprano, who sings ornamental passages in music - C4 to F6 or G6 above high C6

• TENOR high male voice, C (an octave below middle C) up to high C or D (or above)

• BARITONE middle male voice, low G/F an octave below middle C to B, F or G above middle C (just below the Tenor high C)

• ALTO or CONTRALTO low female voice, low C3 (below middle C4) to high C6 or up to high A6

• BASS low male voice, low E (or lower) an octave below middle C to E, F G above middle C

How to take care of your voice:

• Drink plenty of water • Avoid drinking coffee and other diuretics like alcoholic drinks • Sleep 8 hours a night • Do not smoke • Do not misuse or mistreat your voice • Prevent from getting stressed out • Do not drink or eat dairy products before singing • Do not sing without properly warming up • Always smile • Stay healthy

NOTE: SHOUTING IS NOT SINGING!!!

III. LANGUAGE AND DICTION

When the listener hears a song, the words and music create an image, feeling or emotion to which they can relate.

Renowned singers are successful not just for the quality of their music, but also because they recognize that their fans want to understand the song and it is the singers’ job to make it look and sound as easy as possible.

Another important aspect of practicing pronunciation is the way the shape of the mouth and placement of the tongue for each vowel and consonant effects the tone and brightness of the notes produced. Learning how to manipulate these shapes and positions in conjunction with correct breath control can aid in improving tone, range and clarity. Part of developing a good vocal technique involves improving vowel and consonant production so sound those E's, R’s, V’s, F’s, P’s & T's!

Good diction requires the crisp, clear pronunciation of consonants, without which the audience would be incapable of understanding a word you were singing.

IV. TIMING, TEMPO AND RHYTYM

Timing is an important part of singing. Learning to count the beats, using musical notation and sight reading are all part of the process and will help you to improve your singing.

BEATS AND MEASURES

Because music is heard over a period of time, Music is organized by dividing that time up into short periods called beats. Beats are organized even further by grouping them into bars, or measures.

TIME SIGNATURE

The time signature appears at the beginning of the music piece, right after the clef symbol and the key signature symbol.

[pic]
The time signature tells how many beats there are in each measure (top number) and what type of note gets a beat (bottom number).

TEMPO

Tempo is the speed of music. It’s a steady constant pulse, like a clock Ticking. Tempo can be slow or fast or in-between, and it can change during a song. Tempo influences how music sounds and feels.

Examples of basic tempo markings: • Adagietto rather slow (70–80 bpm) • Adagio slow and stately (66–76 bpm) • Agitato hurried, restless • Allegretto grazioso moderately fast and gracefully • Allegretto moderately fast (but less so than allegro) • Allegrissimo very fast • Allegro fast, quickly and bright or "march tempo" • Allegro appassionato fast and passionately • Allegro moderato moderately quick (112–124 bpm) • Andante at a walking pace (76–108 bpm) • Andante Moderato a bit faster than andante • Andantino slightly faster than andante • Grave slow and solemn • Largamente broadly • Larghetto rather broadly (60–66 bpm) • Larghissimo very, very slow (20 bpm and below) • Largo very slow (40–60 bpm), like lento • Lento very slow (40–60 bpm) • Lento assai even more slowly than lento • Lento Moderato moderately slow • Moderato espressivo moderately with expression • Moderato moderately (72–80 bpm) • Prestissimo extremely fast (more than 200bpm) • Presto very fast (168–200 bpm) • Sostenuto sustained, prolonged • Tranquillamente adverb of tranquillo, "calmly" • Tranquillo tranquil • Vivace lively and fast (≈140 bpm) • Vivacissimamente adverb of vivacissimo • Vivacissimo very fast and lively • Vivo lively and alive
RHYTHM

Rhythm refers to the way in which sounds of varying length and accentuation are grouped into patterns. It is made up of sounds and silences put together to make patterns of sound which is repeated. If you listen to a song the tune itself could not be played on a table but it's rhythm could be tapped out on one. If you tapped faster or slower the rhythm does not change - only the tempo. You can identify the rhythm by listening to where the accents are placed. Played notes, words, phrases or drum hits are loud, short, long or soft, these are repeated in a measured flow and these are what make up the 'rhythm' of the song or musical piece.

-----------------------
Vocal Cords/Folds

Sinus

Nasal Cavity

Palates

Oral Cavity

Tongue

Pharynx