In a message dated 3/8/01 12:30:47 PM, DCLARK@r... writes:
<< In my experience, problems with matching pitches are almost always a problem of coordination between what the ear hears (usually correct) and what the vocal instrument can produce (usually undeveloped). >>
That's been my experience, too, Diane. Students who have less singing/listening experience have more trouble with this. But, over time, if both teacher and student are patient and persistent in practice, the range that the student can both hear and match generally widens. Unless there is some inherent "mental hearing" problem, the student should improve eventually. This is slow, however. I have a young student (9th grade female) who could match only those pitches within a narrow range (4th) a year ago, but who can match most anything within a 9th now (she sings alto because the pitches she was first able to match are in that range). If the alto parts stay within her functional range, she can hold her own part in harmony. That tells me it is not her ear, nor her voice and vocal folds, but rather lack of experience, that is the problem.
By the way: *This is similar to the experience some boys have at the voice "breaking" time: their ears hear what it should be, but the vocal folds do not always cooperate! This problem also improves over time with positive reinforcement and patience on both the part of teacher and singer.
Sincerely, Lynda Lacy
Lynda Lacy, Director of Choral Activities Jackson Preparatory School Jackson, Mississippi "Allow your voice to serve the music, not the other way around." - B. R. Henson
<A HREF="http://hometown.aol.com/lynda313/myhomepage/profile.html">Lynda and the Fine Arts</A>
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