IL ACDA 2023: Science of Style

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Classical – Women

Vocal Folds

  • CT > TA
    • Whoop
    • “EE” and “oo”
    • Lip Trills
    • Staccato
  • More LCA needed!
  • All semi-occluded exercises (lip trill, tongue trills, “th”, “v”, “Z”)
    • These also promote better support and even breath pressure which are crucial for female classical singing.
  • Straw phonation
  • Glottal stops

Vocal Tract

  • “Ee” /i/ vowel.
    • Use Ee as an under vowel 
    • Jump an octave with Ah on the bottom and Ee on the top
  • “Oo” /u/ vowel – help find and develop head voice. 
  • For high notes –
    • jaw open 2 finger’s tall
    • Round the lips

Classical – Men

Vocal Folds

  • TA and CT muscles work together to bridge registers and increase range
    • Sob/Cry exercises also known as laryngeal tilt
    • Straw phonation
    • Lightly singing on “Oh, Oo, Ee”
    • “One one one” arpeggiated
    • “Beu” as in Book 1.5 scale

Vocal Tract

  • Low larynx
    • Exercises on “uh” – Use “uh” as the undervowel
    • Dopey sounds
      • Narwhal from elf
      • “Guh”, “Gu”, “Gee” Dopey
    • Pretend you’re an opera singer!
  • Space in the back of the mouth/throat
    • High soft palate
      • Inhale on a “k”
      • Buh
      • Use a mirror
    • Low tongue 
    • Jaw is dropped, but not too wide
  • Rounded lips

Musical Theater

Vocal Folds

  • TA and CT muscles work together
    • already belt/use chest voice
      • Sob/Cry exercises also known as laryngeal tilt
      • Straw phonation
      • Lightly singing on “Oh, Oo, Ee”
      • “One one one” arpeggiated
      • “Beu” as in Book 1.5 scale
    • For women who are classically trained and new to belting
      • “Taxi!”
      • Valley girl “yeah”
      • Witch Cackle 
      • “Hey” ascending 5th
  • Less vibrato

Vocal Tract

  • Neutral larynx
  • Twang
    • Quack
    • Nay Nay
    • Meow
  • Slightly wider vowels – don’t go too far, especially on high notes!
  • “Uh” under vowel
  • Space in the back of the mouth/throat
  • High soft palate
    • Inhale on a “k”
    • Buh
    • Use a mirror
  • Low tongue 
  • Jaw is dropped, but not too wide

Pop

Vocal Folds

  • You don’t need to mix
  • Do whatever works for you
  • Experiment and Explore
  • Don’t be afraid of ugly sounds

Vocal Tract

  • You can make nasal sounds (soft palate can be down)
  • Lips can spread 
  • Do whatever works for you
  • Experiment and Explore
  • Don’t be afraid of ugly sounds