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1I4 TRAINING THE SINGING VOICE
rate technique in controlling phonation. It is imbedded in the tonal concept and must be taught as part of the phonatory process. "We control
pitch by thinking," says Mowe. "This is the only control that should be attempted." [405, p. 5]
Stevens and Miles, who made an experimental study of the relation of vocal attack to pitch accuracy in singing report that correct intonation {of pitch) cannot be obtained "by any effort of the will," except by means of die "untaught instinctive sense of mental perception." [583] Edward Johnson, famous tenor, likewise believes that "the creation of tension on the vocal cords [for pitch control] is a completely subconscious process/' Pitch changes in phonation are therefore automatic and unconscious and are controlled by thought alone. [306]
Finally, Dunkley claims that most singing faults are caused by incorrect habits of pitch control. [151, p. 1] "Singing off pitch is more often a mental than a physical disorder," says Eley. [160] Shakespeare likewise taught that correction of this fault could be achieved only by losing all consciousness of tongue or throat action and by practicing with the mental visualization of correct tones before singing them. [517, p. 24]
TECHNICAL APPROACH
Otm! controls. The mouth or oral cavity is part of the tone channel through which voice is conveyed from the larynx to the outer atmosphere. The oral cavity is separated from the nasal cavity that lies above it by a horizontal bony and muscular partition called the palate. The mouth (oral) cavity also includes the tongue, teeth, cheeks, lips, chin and jaw and it is often loosely referred to in terms of one or more of these parts. Mouth position may therefore include chin position, jaw position, lip position, etc
Thirty-eight statements mention the control of mouth position as a technical factor in training the singing voice, the main purpose being to relax the jaw so as to help prevent muscular constrictions in the throat. But the efficacy of voluntary oral control is in doubt and 9 authors are definitely opposed to it. Both sides of the issue are represented as follows:
For voluntary oral control:
2. The musculature that controls the shape of the oral cavity is closely related to and coordinated with the muscular action of the larynx. Mouth position is therefore important. [Crist 123]
a. The old masters taught that the mouth should be opened enough to admit one or two fingers. [Henderson 243, p. 62; Blatherwick 53] |
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