Dear Whomever:
I would suggest that you try a breath onset (breath before sound) and then a glottal onset (sound preceded by a glottal attack as in the expression "uh uh" when disapproving). The breathy and glottal onsets are the opposite extremes of onset use and are not recommended generally but do help the singer define onset problems. The ideal onset is midway between the breathy and glottal onset.
Often those who tense the base of the tongue with the onset of tone also tend to begin the tone with some form of the glottal onset. If you tend to do use a glottal onset it is necessary for you to move in the direction of a breathy onset.
It is most important when practicing onsets that the singer give minimal consideration to tone quality. The tone that appears immediately after a correct onset is the singers most natural tone quality and this quality should be allowed and encouraged by the singer and teacher. It is most common to observe a singer create a correct onset and immediately alter the resultant tone to meet the singers idea of how they think they should sound. This destroys the opportunity for the singer to discover his own tone quality.
Good luck on a most rewarding search for you voice and its ease of use. -- Lloyd W. Hanson, DMA Professor of Voice and Vocal Pedagogy, Emeritus Director of Opera-Theatre, 1987-1997 College of Fine Arts (formerly, School of Performing Arts) Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ
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