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Vocal Point
Buegrass and Dexterity
Jun-01-2000
©2000 iBluegrass.com. All rights reserved.
Hello and welcome once again to 'Vocal Point of View.' Let me start by restating some points made in last months opening paragraph, which went something like this:
Ballad or 'burner,' Bluegrass singing is highly charged emotionally and often requires a great deal of dexterity. It's important for those of us who love and sing this music to have the physical and emotional flexibility required to express it with the ease and power inherent in its nature. For that reason I believe it's crucial to spend time learning to get rid of physical tension that prevents our voices from being able to respond more directly to reflex and nuance. Freedom from these tensions throws open the door to spontaneity and emotionally driven power and ease. Freedom from these tensions creates the flexible and responsive environment necessary for learning and 'really getting' vocal technique.
This month we'll continue to go about the satisfying business of targeting and releasing these primary tension areas. If you've tuned in for the first time this month it would be a good idea to go back and look over April and May's 'Vocal Point' articles.
Last month we worked on freeing up the breath or 'reflexive' breathing. Continuing with this process, be sure that your stomach muscles are completely released, gently place the flat of your hand on your stomach just below your belly button (lower stomach / abdominal area). Completely release your stomach muscles. Wait for an impulse to take in a breath---then exhale on a barely audible 'huh' sound. Follow the breath, don't force it out. Do this again flowing with the natural energy of the breath, half way through gently closing your lips. This will turn the 'huh' into a hum or 'huuummm' sound. As you repeat this process picture this hum emanating from a 'sphere of vibration' located in the lower belly / abdominal area where your hand should still be placed. Feel the vibration there. Picture it there. You are now establishing a new center for the voice---the place from which sound will emanate. You are moving operations from 'upstairs' (off the jaw and neck area) to it's true home, the comfortable resonant 'downstairs' location.
Taking your time repeat the above process, this time noticing the vibration in your face, particularly on the bridge of the nose and on either side of it. This is referred to as the 'mask' area of the face, (think of the mask worn by that T.V. hero of old, the 'Lone Ranger,' and you'll have it covered, so to speak).
Repeat the process some more and feel the vibration on your lips. By nature vibration wants to multiply. Continue easily with this exercise until you find a balance point where vibration seems to increase. Continue to feel resonance in the mask as well is on the lips. You are now experiencing the 'feel' of resonance, a feeling you'll want to build on and into your singing.
In summary, the above exercises will start the process of freeing the head cavity, jaw and neck area from tension; help to identify the 'feel' of resonance (vibration) and help to relocate the voice's center of power to where it should be, in the 'sphere' located between the bottom of the ribs and the abdominals. Take your time with these exercises, go easily and good luck!
Next months 'Vocal Point' will feature an interview with an extraordinary singer who turns heads and makes Bluegrass vocal history no matter what musical context he's found in---the amazing John Cowan. Don't miss it and see you next month!
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