To: "VOCALIST" <vocalist>
Subject: Fw: speech-level singing
Date sent: Thu, 3 Feb 2000 13:59:40 -0500
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

I think I used a taboo word the first time I sent this so here's the
expurgated version:

Hi Jennifer:

We did discuss a bit about some ways to determine where our voice might
naturally lie. It wouldn't be all that long ago in the archives. One way we
were taught in theatre voice class was to say "uh-huh" the way you
naturally
would in conversation and find the pitch where the uh-huh tended to sit. I
think the archives will have more - someone was doing some research on it,
so it was discussed a little bit. Hope that helps!

I've recently become aware that the "voice of authority" my 4 year old has
driven me to use is trashing my voice. Even though I only use it when he
(or my
husband) won't listen (OK that's 90% of the time!) I find myself more
easily
fatigued and muscularly sore when I speak than I ever have. 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 the males of the species insidiously train us to use that voice
because they like that Demi Moore, Lauren Bacall, "I was Up All Night
Smoking, Drinking and Having S*x" voice. So they purposely don't respond
when asked a question in our normal, healthy voice. They make us repeat our
question three times and refuse to answer until, in despair, we lower our
larynx to about sternum level and bellow firmly, "I SAID, will you PLEASE
change Alex's diaper?!!?" Then they smile and say, "You don't have to yell,
just ask!" After about 3 years of this, you learn to cut to the chase and
either change the diaper yourself or use the Darth Vader voice right off
the
bat.

Laura Sharp
who is leaving the Dark Side to find the Force within instead : )
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jennifer"
> To: "VOCALIST" <vocalist>
> Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2000 11:50 AM
> Subject: RE: speech-level singing
>
>
> > I speak with a fairly low voice (I'm a soprano, which no one believes
> 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