Dear Reg and Vocalisters
On 21-Jan-01, you wrote:
> Thanks Lloyd. Now I see why it's controversial.
>
>> It is possible to open the nasal port slightly and reduce the effect of
> the
>> nasal area acting as a side branch resonator.
>
> I assume you meant here ..slight opening of the nasal port to introduce
> a slight component of the side resonator...?
> I accept what you say about singers using this habitually, but doesn't
> such a habit risk overuse, as well as being intrinsically less efficient?
> Sort of flirting with defective technique. I recall RM telling a soprano
> to reserve the French nasal sound for the end of the vowel. I imagine that
> would be to ensure that what you describe does not threaten the tone with
> nasality.
Yes, I think that opening the masal port slightly is flirting with a
defective technique. Some insist on its efficacy but I have never found
any student who was not more pleased with its removal once they learned how
to avoid its constant use,
>> The soft palate area can be lifted even if the nasal port is slightly
> open.
>> The soft palate area can also be lowered even if the nasal port is
> closed.
>
> Are you suggesting here that the soft palate is, or can be, used as a
> means of interfering with the oropharyengeal volume, just the same as the
> tongue does? An active participant in the tuning process, rather than just
> a velopharyngeal plug?
Most definitely. The soft palate is an active participant in the tuning of
the vocal tract to the sung pitch. In a more raised position the soft
palate gives the vocal tone a warmer quality. But raising the soft palate
does not necessarily imply a closed nasal port. I have had students who
sing with a nicely raised soft palate but still add nasality to the tone
because they leave the nasal port slightly open. How they do this I don't
know. I cannot do it.
I am using the term nasality here to mean an open nasal port which gives the
tone a nasal quality. Some would use the work nasality to mean a tone that
is richer in upper partials but not nasal in quality. Obviously this gives
the word nasality another meaning and the two uses of the word "nasality"
adds to confusion rather than reducing it.
> Wouldn't this be confined to periods other than the vowel duration?
I am not sure what you mean by this last statement. Can you make it more
clear for me?
Regards
--
Lloyd W. Hanson, DMA
Professor of Voice, Vocal Pedagogy
School of Performing Arts
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
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