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Date sent: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 10:29:59 EST
Subject: Re: TECHNIQUE: singing "ah" -THANKS!
To: vocalist
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In a message dated 1/28/00 6:30:42 AM Central Standard Time,
peggyh-at-ix.netcom.com writes:

<< There are some choral instructions I'd have problems with, but there's
nothing
intrinsically wrong about asking singers tp drop their jaws and get theirs
mouths to form
the vowel. >>


There is something intrinsically wrong with this. It distorts the vowel and
takes the ring out of the voice, and that's what its whole intent is. Many
choir directors will dumb down good voices (by eliminating vibrancy through
this method) rather than elevate the poor ones in an effort to create blend.

In fact, in a NATS column, Jean Westerman Greg addressing ethics in voice
teaching stated that choir directors that use the hung jaw method were
unethical because the litereature/research has pointed out the hazards of
this approach and many continue to use it despite this fact.

Randy Buescher