| Date sent: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 10:26:05 EST Subject: weight lifting and balanced onsets To: vocalist Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>
<< Hello Susi and List:
I have found onset exercises work best to obtain correct closure of the vocal folds for singing and counteract the effects often found with singers who lift weights.
The best description of the correct onset exercise procedure and examples of exercises for their use I have found in Richard Miller's book, "The Structure of Singing".
Regards -- Lloyd W. Hanson, DMA >>
Onset exercises are not always the best answer (as a first step) especially when the student either habitually under or overcompresses the voice. If over compression exists, I'd shape the behavior towards something that is not so hyperfunctional (using lip trills, tongue trills, etc.) and then use a balanced onset. To ask someone to produce a balanced onset when everything up to that point has been strenuous is asking them to do something that is most likely unattainable in cases of hyper or hypo function. Better to shape the behavior in a progressive, stepwise fashion. It's much more efficient and follows the principles of clinical practice. Using balanced onsets as the primary exercise in this case is putting the longterm goal before the short term goal, or in other words, the cart before the horse.
Randy Buescher
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