Summary: An extremely important part of singing is the forming of words. Words help to convey a deeper meaning in addition to music, but cannot do so if the audience can't understand what is being said. Obviously there isn't much you can do if you are singing in a foreign language, but even then the singer should strive for a purity in vowel and cleanness in consonants. There are some vowels that can sound similar, but each vowel has different characteristics and require a different formation of the articulators. In the case of diphthongs, the singer must learn what the correct emphasized vowel is, and produce it in a way so that it doesn't get muddied by the surrounding sounds. Consonants too require attention so that they do not effect the purity of the vowel whether they precede or follow.
Key Terms: Vowels. Vowel formant. Consonants. Phonemes. Vowel alignment.
Key Concepts: Language is shape. Refined speech is just as important as in singing. Vowel sound fall on the beat, therefore, initial consonants must be sounded before the beat.
Making Connections: I have already taken all three diction classes offered here at USU, but it was really helpful to get a refresher! Plus Oren words things differently, and I was able to make more distinctions between some vowels that I have had trouble with. As I read this chapter, I wondered what things I do in my speech that need attention. How should I address my speech patterns? We learned in the last book that we want to keep our natural vernacular, but I would really like to learn more about things I can work on when I'm not singing.
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