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Vocal Point
The Art of Bluegrass Vocals
May-05-2000
©2000 iBluegrass.com. All rights reserved.
In my personal experience as a singer, and teacher of singing, I've come to the conclusion that developing the singing voice through standard vocal techniques alone (i.e. the mechanics of improved range, resonance, breathe support, etc.) is certainly effective, but often doesn't pull in a most important link --- that being the YOU in your voice. By nature bluegrass singing is highly charged emotionally and often requires a great deal of dexterity. It is, therefore, very important for us lovers and singers of the music to have the physical and emotional flexibility required to express the songs with the ease and power inherent in its nature. I, therefore, find it important to spend time on another approach that focuses on ridding our bodies of tensions that diminish the voice's ability to respond more directly to reflex and nuance, and that allows it to be more directly connected to emotional impulse and spontaneity.
Last months column was a general discussion on the negative effects of tension on the voice and a few general hints on the freeing up process. In the next few articles I will be offering more specific information in a way that will systematically target primary areas of tension that interfere with that all important spontaneity.
Getting right to it, let's begin with something near and dear to us all --- breathing. To be more specific, reflexive breathing. First let's do a quick posture check. Make sure that your chest is not caved in or that your back is swayed (either will "scrunch" the back, chest and lower abdominal muscles that control exhalation which is pretty important because it has to do with making sound). Stand with your weight evenly distributed on both feet, feel some flex in your knees and picture your spine easily stretching upward.
For the exhalation:
Place your hand on your lower abdomen and allow yourself to exhale on a barely audible "huh" sound. Don't force the air out, follow it out and be sure to keep your chest up until you feel a complete exhalation of air.
For the inhalation:
Wait until you feel an impulse from your body to inhale. Once again don't help the air in, relax your throat and let the air be drawn in through your nose and relaxed lips (prevents a noisy sound). You will find that if you don't try to control the intake and expelling of air but follow the natural impulses of your body that it will be a different, more relaxed feeling.
If you experience tension in your chest or rib area upon inhalation it becomes difficult to sustain the breath and, therefore a note, with any ease. This, in turn, shifts tension to the throat and jaw. That is where a gaggle of vocal problems start.
Take your time with this exercise so you can really feel it work. A good time to practice is in the morning when you first wake up or before bed --- or anytime you have a few minutes to spare during the day.
Enjoy, and don't forget to sing a lot and for the love of it!
See you next month!
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