Dear Ken,
Well, you are quite right in that you should never
deliberately force your larynx to do anything it
doesn't want to, and depressing the larynx will often
do as you describe, and make the sound darker and more
covered. Some people like that, but myself I like a
young sounding, bright ringing voice. In any case,
this sort of tone will carry much better and be
generally more harmonious to the ear. Especially if
you are a counter tenor and in the sort of repetoire
that you do; you'd end up sounding like Dame Clara
Butt, and that would be odd! (Incidentally, for such
a huge voice, she had a humdinger of a trill)
I imagine (bearing in mind your repetoire, which I
assume is lots of earlyish stuff/church/masses etc)
that you would find it easier than you think doing a
trill. Or something that is approximate to one. By the
very nature of the counter tenor voice it would appear
to be more flexible than say, it's baritone friend!
The state of almost relaxation is not something I can
easily tell over the internet, but what the Hell,
let's have a go! Try singing a very 'thready' breathy,
hooty tone with not much 'support' (I enclose support
in bullets as it's not a word I like to use, but
however a student interprets is up to them: I prefer
to use the word energised sound or sustain) Next, try
singing two notes, I suggest a semitone apart at first
in a very light fashion. Make sure there is
absolutely no tension in the neck and just allow the
abdominal muscles to do what they like; try not to
impose any pressure there either. They will be
working I assure you, so don't worry!
Now try to really listen to the wobbly sound in your
head. Out of interest, the more rattlely (no idea how
to spell that!) it sounds, probably the better. If
you don't believe me, try recording your trill
practise and then playing it back.
You might like to continue doing this for a while
until you get used to the odd feeling (which it is).
Practise only in the middle of your voice for the time
being, and as you continue, try lowering the larynx
just a smidge. If it alters the tone too much ie too
dark, don't continue just yet. It's just a muscle
memory thing that makes a trill work. Once the muscles
know what they're supposed to be doing, they can 'tune
themselves' in to the matter at hand.
The more you can practise this light and airy sound,
the more 'balanced' the instrument will get. Then, and
only then should you practise the same but with more
daring! Use a mess di voce to try trilling. V. hard
but good practise. Also, by singing in a larger tone.
One of the other listers noted the Vaccaj exercises,
and there is a fabulous vocalise incorporating some
good trills.
I would be interested to know how you get on? If this
made no sense at all, then I can only apologise. The
best way to learn these things is, after all, from
your maestro/teacher/svengali etc!
Best wishes,
Ian Belsey. Voice technician. Bromley, Kent, England.
ps. If I think of anymore bits and bobs offhand, I'll
jot them down.
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