| To: "Vocalist entry" <vocalist> Subject: Re: speech-level singing Date sent: Thu, 3 Feb 2000 22:55:48 +0100 Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>
Isabelle Bracamonte wrote: <
many women speak with an artificially lowered speaking
tone. I heard an interview with Blegen, and her
speaking voice sounds just like a little girl's. Many girls (I've always heard) begin to lower their speaking voices in pitch during their high school years, wishing to sound less "girly-girly".>>
Laura Sharp wrote: << I've recently become aware that the "voice of authority" my 4 year old
has
driven me to use is trashing my voice. I think I have
a bit of muscle tension dysphonia from it and I've vowed to find a way to get him to behave using only my natural, sultry Minnie Mouse on helium voice.>>
I think that's it, girls. The "voice of authority" is a male voice on the deeper side. Women with "Minnie Mouse" type speaking voices are not taken seriously. I even think that someone researched it - wish I could remember who. BTW, that goes for Western culture, I haven't a clue if it is the same in the rest of the world. There must be some influence from the language as well.
Jennifer wrote: <
until
they hear me sing!). But it's not something I artificially lower - I've just
always spoken in chest voice. Is there some way to develop a mixed voice
when speaking? Head voice makes me sound like a little girl, or a whacked
out opera singer :o). >>
Yes, a mixed speaking voice can be done. Main problem seems to be that it is
hard to change old habits and get used to having a "different" voice, as a
speaking voice is a very personal thing.
From the same source, I've also heard that most speech therapists will tell you to use the chest voice for speaking, no matter what type of voice you have. Strikes me as a bit odd, as I (for one) can't get much resonance into it. I suspect that could be the case for many high voices (why else would they be high voices?). Correct me, please, if I am wrong. Ah well, there are probably different schools in speech therapy as well as in singing.
Karin Mandix (another soprano that speaks in chest voice)
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