On Dec.1 Robin Frye Wrote:
> - I do teach, and practice myself, a comfortably raised > soft palate. > - Having said that, I also teach, and practice myself, > the use of a judicious amount of nasal resonance, which > also increases ring. Nasal resonance and a gently > raised soft palate are not mutually exclusive, but a > hyperextended soft palate will close off the nasal > port.
Dear Listers:
This topic caught my eye as I looked through the old postings. When we as singers allow air to pass through the nose, we then add the nasal cavity to the rest of the vocal tract. Anytime air passes through the nares during singing (except during consonant production) the velum or soft palate is in a relaxed/low position, thus opening the velopharyngeal port. If we speak it in physiological way: when nasal resonance is present in the sound(use of nasal cavity), the soft palate CANNOT be in a raised position at all. True "ring" comes in a voice that has separated the nasal cavity from the vocal tract. In addition, the effect nasal resonance has on laryngeal position is important as well. As the soft palate is raised- the larynx lowers, and vice versa. I'm sure that we would all agree that a hallmark of fine singing has always been a stable or comfortably low larynx- do we not?
Robin wrote:
And I was extremely > dismayed to see the recent article on this topic in the > NATS Journal. Dismayed, but not surprised, because > teachers and singers tend to be firmly in one camp or > the other on this one, and it is one of the most > controversial aspects of vocal technique. > Right on Robin- This topic is extremely controversial in the field. It is unfortunate that the artical did not appeal to you. In the article the author presents not what HE believes to be true about nasal resonance- but, what acoustic analysis and other valued teachers like Garcia and Tosi said about the subject. Whether we use nasal resonance or not, the effects of nasal resonance are clearly observable in the article's data. In this simple sharing of information, science may actually help us as teachers. It is important for all of us as voice teachers to learn in-depth the anatomy and physiology of the vocal mechanism. This will help us become more effective teachers and dispell confusion in the profession. I for one am lucky to be studying with the article's author, who, with the exception of Titze, is one of the only true voice scientists around.
Take Care All,
Taylor L. Ferranti DMA Candidate in Vocal Pedagogy LSU
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