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    ABCD Vocal Technique Handout PDF

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    Ranieque Ramos
    This document discusses techniques for teaching singing to young voices. It covers limitations of the young voice, appropriate activities and skills for different age groups, and techniques to address issues like breathiness. It also addresses changes that occur during adolescence and implications for teaching. Key points are that children can sing in any style that respects their vocal abilities, repertoire choice is crucial, and a variety of techniques can be explored as long as they are not used exclusively or for prolonged periods. Maintaining curiosity and trying new ideas each day is encouraged for vocal development.

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    ABCD Vocal Technique Handout PDF

    Uploaded by

    Ranieque Ramos
    270 views9 pages
    This document discusses techniques for teaching singing to young voices. It covers limitations of the young voice, appropriate activities and skills for different age groups, and techniques to address issues like breathiness. It also addresses changes that occur during adolescence and implications for teaching. Key points are that children can sing in any style that respects their vocal abilities, repertoire choice is crucial, and a variety of techniques can be explored as long as they are not used exclusively or for prolonged periods. Maintaining curiosity and trying new ideas each day is encouraged for vocal development.

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    This document discusses techniques for teaching singing to young voices. It covers limitations of the young voice, appropriate activities and skills for different age groups, and techniques to address issues like breathiness. It also addresses changes that occur during adolescence and implications for teaching. Key points are that children can sing in any style that respects their vocal abilities, repertoire choice is crucial, and a variety of techniques can be explored as long as they are not used exclusively or for prolonged periods. Maintaining curiosity and trying new ideas each day is encouraged for vocal development.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    270 views9 pages

    ABCD Vocal Technique Handout PDF

    Uploaded by

    Ranieque Ramos
    This document discusses techniques for teaching singing to young voices. It covers limitations of the young voice, appropriate activities and skills for different age groups, and techniques to address issues like breathiness. It also addresses changes that occur during adolescence and implications for teaching. Key points are that children can sing in any style that respects their vocal abilities, repertoire choice is crucial, and a variety of techniques can be explored as long as they are not used exclusively or for prolonged periods. Maintaining curiosity and trying new ideas each day is encouraged for vocal development.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 9

    ABCD -

    25 August 2012

    Singing technique for young


    voices a practical approach

    Dr Jenevora Williams
    Illustrations by Harry Venning

    Infant and
    adult vocal
    tract

    Infant and
    adult larynx

    Infant and adult lungs

    Limitations of the young voice


    pitch range
    length of phrases
    loudness
    stamina
    muscular coordination and isolation

    These limitations gradually reduce over time


    until adolescent changes begin

    Pre-school singing activities

    Vocal mechanism still adapting for speech (short vocal tract)

    Activities - nursery rhymes, action songs

    Pre-school vocal skill possibilities

    posture awareness

    movement and singing

    choosing the best pitch range to encourage in-tune singing

    Key Stage 1 - ages 4 to 7yrs

    Vocal mechanism able to speak well


    Singing activities - group songs, some rounds
    possible

    Technical limitations at this age:

    pitch range

    overall muscular coordination and awareness

    Key Stage 1 - ages 4 to 7yrs


    Technical possibilities:
    posture
    breathing (?)
    exploring full upper pitch range

    Key Stage 2 - ages 7 - 11yrs

    Vocal mechanism developing strength and agility


    Singing activities - group songs (in 2 or 3 parts),
    solo songs
    common issue:
    in-tune singing

    Key Stage 2 - ages 7 - 11yrs


    Technical possibilities

    posture

    breathing

    pitch range

    reducing breathiness

    The Larynx and


    the vocal folds

    Breathiness

    what causes breathy singing?

    reduce overall effort levels

    onset exercise

    more twang/ring

    Other techniques
    originating in the larynx pitch and registers

    Chest/head or thick/thin

    Which pitch to change register?

    Weak upper register - resonance

    Voicing: other techniques


    originating in the larynx
    Onset

    - 4 types

    aspirate
    glottal
    simultaneous
    creak

    Voicing: other techniques


    originating in the larynx
    - constriction

    What is the prime function of the larynx?

    general release and movement

    silent in-breath

    puffy cheeks

    giggling

    Resonance:
    the vocal tract

    Consists of mouth, nose and


    pharynx
    Think of as a squeezy tube:
    changing the shape alters vowels
    and resonance qualities

    Larynx height, lip position

    Soft palate

    Vocal tract - Jaw

    Gripping

    Pulling forward (over-opening)

    Vocal tract - Tongue

    Tongue root tension Pulling back and pressing down


    (enhancing internal acoustic signal, larynx control)

    Tongue tip exercises (teeth)

    Resonance skills

    Very useful reduce projection effort levels

    Enhancing higher formants


    Twang
    Feeling vibrations (hard palate, nose etc)
    Working with ee and oo

    Soft palate work (holding nose, ngee etc)


    Vocal tract shape + Tongue position

    Quality of sound

    Projection

    Onset

    Vocal fold thickness

    Phrasing

    Vowels and consonants

    Degree of tilt

    Larynx height

    Safe belting

    What is belting?

    Thick-fold (speech/shout)

    High air pressure / Low air flow

    High pitch range (C5 to F5)

    To make it easier

    Projection

    Deconstriction

    Stabilising efficient posture/breathing

    Adolescent voice
    - overall growth patterns

    Caused by changing hormone levels

    Physical growth is in growth spurts or stages

    Growth of larynx mirrors overall growth

    Adolescent larynx

    Female growth: 33%

    Male growth: 66%

    Thickening of vocal folds


    Vocal folds coronal section

    Child

    Adult female

    Adult male

    Adolescent voices
    - girls

    Larynx growth

    Glottal chink breathiness

    Coordination - Register breaks

    Voice change tends to be most noticeable with onset of menses,


    this may occur some time after the initial hormonal change

    Huskiness = Hormones
    Pre-menstrual and menstrual phases water
    retention in the mucosa of the vocal folds
    Vocal fatigue
    Decreased range
    Loss of vocal power
    Loss of vocal brightness
    Loss of pianissimo
    Problems with intonation
    Hoarseness

    (Filipa L, 2005)

    Adolescent voice
    onset of puberty - Boys

    Boy is born with a biological clock for pubertal onset

    Castration

    Starvation

    Chronic illness

    Severe emotional deprivation


    (in girls it can be accelerated by obesity, in boys it can be delayed by obesity)

    Normal child - hormones - pre-determined age

    regardless of vocal training



    Any influence of environment has not been researched

    Five developmental stages of


    adolescent male voice

    Extended singing range (unfilled note)


    Comfortable modal singing range (filled note)
    Speech fundamental frequency (cross)
    (Cooksey 2000)

    Edward from 14 to 16yrs


    210

    183

    155

    128

    100
    170

    178

    185

    193

    200

    Age in months
    Height in cm
    Speaking f0 in Hz

    Singing exclusively in falsetto


    residual habits

    High larynx position

    Pharyngeal constriction

    More open vocal folds (respiratory habits of


    onset and sustain)
    Using specific muscle groups in extreme and
    unrelenting contraction when they are growing
    and changing shape rapidly (66%)

    Teaching boy singers what is good practice?

    Occasional falsetto vs exclusive falsetto

    Repertoire especially CCM

    Choral music especially tenor parts

    Young voices pedagogical implications?

    Shorter phrases

    Smaller pitch and volume range

    Range of vowel differentiation/vocal colours is less

    Fewer voice qualities and less vocal stamina

    Different pitch range of vocal registers

    Conclusion
    The rules of healthy voice use apply to all ages
    Children can sing in any style or range that is possible within
    this
    All voices have limitations of pitch, loudness, breath sustain and
    voice quality

    Repertoire choice

    Absolutely crucial
    Shorter phrases
    Smaller pitch and volume range
    Range of vowel differentiation/vocal colours is less
    Fewer voice qualities and less vocal stamina
    Different pitch range of vocal registers

    Avoid:

    High Loud

    Fast

    Long

    vocal technique
    Keep playing
    Try new ideas every day
    If it doesnt work, try another one
    If it does work, share it
    Stay curious

    Recommended further
    reading
    On singing
    Chapman, J. (2006). Singing and teaching singing. San Diego, Plural Publishing.
    Dayme, M. B. (2005). The Performer's Voice. New York, W Norton & company.

    On teaching
    McPherson, G., Ed. (2006). The Child as Musician, Oxford University Press.
    Harrison, S., G. Welch, et al., Eds. (2012). Perspectives on males and singing, Springer.
    MacPherson, G. and G. Welch, Eds. Oxford Handbook of Music Education. Oxford, OUP.

    and...
    Williams, J (2012). Teaching singing to children and young adults, Compton Publishing Ltd

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