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TRAINING THE SINGING VOICE |
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beauty, carrying power and emotional properties are all concomitants of one vocal impulse or expressional urge. [Haywood 233] The governor of tone quality is the mind and imagination of the singer. [Lewis 343, p. 3] Or, as Brown puts it, emotion controls vocal quality. [78, p. 98] Owsley and Felderman likewise believe that quality depends upon the state of mind as well as on a relaxed body. Variations of vocal color are "in direct ratio to the emotional complex of the singer." [441, p. 62; 175]
Is direct control of resonance possible? Of the 13 opinions expressed on this topic, 8 are for placing strong emphasis 011 the importance of an indirect or psychological control of the voice through expressional intent. The other 5 favor direct control of resonance factors. Frank Philip states that the direction of the breath stream and the utilization of the resonance chambers of the voice certainly do come within the actual control of the will of the singer. [446, p. 27] Therefore it is part of the singing teacher's work to instruct the pupil in the best methods of controlling the positions of the throat, tongue, cheeks and lips that will produce optimum resonance conditions during phonation. [Passe 443, p. 63] Shaw believes that favorable vocal resonance results from correct voluntary adjustments of the vocal orifice, the mouth and lips. [518, p. 184] Voice placement, in other words, is largely a matter of training the student singer so that he can voluntarily shape his upper air passages to produce the best possible resonance conditions for each note within his vocal range. [Rediield 462, p. 268] Greta Stueckgold, artist singer, believes that a type of resonance control can be achieved by consciously willing the tone into the head. [594]
Those who are opposed to direct control of vocal resonance believe that when voice production is free enough the tone win automatically find all the resonance cavities that are available for its proper reinforcement, whether in the chest or head. [Faulds 141] "Quality exists first as an idea, a mental picture/' says Clippinger. [112] A type of reflex action occurs in a norma! vocai organ which unconsciously induces the proper vocal resonance. [Conklin 121, p. 20] Of course resonance is always an important factor in voice production but the singer will remember that, however important it may be, it is always a product of involuntary muscle adjustments [Wilcox 669, p. 6] and that therefore resonance cannot be improved by direct muscular controls. Radiograms taken of the singing voice in action have demonstrated this fact, according to Evetts and Wor-thington. [167, p. 45] Resonances will always occur naturally, when muscular interferences are removed. [Douty 144] Judd believes that good resonance is a product of correct vocal attack and good diction. Hence it must |
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