Date sent: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 21:31:59 EST
Subject: Re: Diction (was Misheard Song Lyrics)
To: vocalist
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

In a message dated 02/08/2000 12:55:01 PM Central Standard Time,
jjh-at-NebrWesleyan.edu writes:

<< My question about this topic is, is it necessary to modify vowels at about
C5? When I sing a middle C, I don't have too much mouth opening, but I do
have slightly more opening on C5, which would cause a slight modification.
I guess I've been singing so long that I don't let the vowels get too fuzzy,
unfocused, or distorted, but a high school student might have problems with
this. Is this choir director specifically asking them to modify their
vowels, or is he/she just asking them to relax their jaws? >>

Specifically modifying their vowels. Yes, I acknowledge in their lessons
that they will need to open their mouths, thereby modifying the vowels, but
above all, we need to maintain vowel integrity.

Richard Miller had a great exercise this summer for vowel modification -
calling a name on a two-note phrase (like "yoo-hoo"). The names were Jane,
June, Joan, Jean, Jan and John ... the objective was to simultaneously keep
the name understood and produce a clear sound while ascending the scale. I
find it very effective with my students.

The other example I've been using is the band Little Feat. When they
perform, their die-hard fans call out their names: "FEAAAAT!!" They call
it in a way that clearly uses vowel modification and use of head resonance.
That's what makes it carry. By the same token, in the early 80s, the
Milwaukee Brewers had a player named Cecil Cooper who would be created to the
plate in a similar way: "COOOOOOOP!" So I've been having them call out
"Feat!" and "Coop!" and then sing the vowel on a descending 5-note scale
applying the same amount of "height" or "space" or whatever you want to call
it!


Chris Thomas
Mezzo-Soprano
Wauwatosa, WI

"I love to sing-a, about the moon-a and the June-a and the spring-a"