In a message dated 10/08/2001 8:43:41 AM Central Daylight Time, arado_ge@y... writes: arado_ge@y... writes:
<< Then, after working these notes my voice feels completely exhausted and even talking is a major effort. This tells me my technique is all wrong. Does anyone have a ny suggestsions of exercises I can work on to try and develop this part of my range or can explain to me what I am doing wrong. >>
That's an understatement. Have you had your vocal folds checked? Before you can fix your technique, you might want to make sure that everything is healthy in there.
Exercises: I'm not a big fan of vocal fry, but I have used it occasionally with a few students. This is the low sound that you make when your alarm goes off at 5:30 in the morning and you say in a barely audible groan "nooooo.... I don't wanna get uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup." Take that low unpitched sound and gently slide up to a pitch -- maybe an A-flat - on [a] and go do-re-mi-re-do. Repeat until you start on middle C. CAVEAT: If you feel any pressure at all, if it feels like you're constipated, do not do this exercise. At least not without someone there to tell you how to fix it. Again, I am very ambivalent toward vocal fry, I do not think it is a cure-all. It might work on a limited basis. I think if not done right, it's dangerous. NOTE THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE, any vocal fry fans!!!
An exercise I DO use frequently to get into the lower register is a 5 note slide downward on [i-a] or [i-u] (for the non-IPA users, ee-ah, ee-oo). That should also help the problem you're having with keeping your tongue forward.
Lip trills, lip trills, lip trills! Sometimes, whether the problem is up or down, I'll have someone open up on a lip trill to an [a] (kind of a Roger Rabbit effect}. Just don't change anything in your support or resonance when you open to a vowel.
Above all, what does YOUR teacher say?
Christine Thomas Wauwatosa, WI <A HREF="http://hometown.aol.com/mezzoid/myhomepage/profile.html"> http://hometown.aol.com/mezzoid/myhomepage/profile.html</A>
"Pace, mio Dio, pace, mio Dio." -- La forza del destino, Giuseppe Verdi
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