Your Voice: An Inside View Ch 1: Listening Study Questions
Provide the missing descriptor in the following pairs: (2-6)
Clean – Raspy
Dramatic – Lyric
Loft – Twang
Clear – Breathy
Healthy – Damaged
Dark – Bright
Forward – Back
Ringing – Conversational
Nasal – Non-Nasal
Free – Forced
Straight Tone –Vibrant
Wobble – Flutter
Define chiaroscuro. The literal translation from latin is "light, dark." When discussing the voice, it refers to the balance between brilliance and warmth. The difference between dark and light sounds are a matter of overtone strength. Singers generally include a mixture of both and a well balanced singer has learned to use both light and dark resonance in their sound.
How does the strength of the overtones vary in tones that are bright vs. dark? Bright tones have stronger high pitched overtones while dark tones have stronger lower pitched overtones.
What causes twang resonance? How would you describe the sound? The narrowing of the vocal tract causes twang resonance. I would describe it as pinched, piercing, and nasally. It doesn't really have a place in classical singing, but can sound nice in genres like blue grass, country, pop, and musical theatre.
What causes loft resonance? Loft resonance is created by enlarging and relaxing the vocal tract by lowering the larynx and lifting the soft palate.
What often causes the sound to be ‘back’ rather than forward? Root of tongue tension and don't I know it.
Lyric and dramatic are indicators of both the size and the of the voice. The size and the "color" of the voice.
Synonyms for light and dramatic might be "lyric and full."
What is the cause of breathiness? The vocal cords are not fully adducted, and there is an opening in the glottis through which air is escaping.
What is raspiness? What causes raspiness? A raspy sound is created by irregular vocal fold vibration and may be an indication of vocal pathologies. Raspiness sounds horse and course and gravely.
How are breathiness and raspiness different? Breathiness sounds like a hiss of air while raspiness sounds like a grinding, chain-smoker's voice.
What are signs of a damaged voice? Excessive sounds like airy or gravely tones, popping or cracking sounds, problems with intonation, or irregularities in vibrato. I would also add singing too loud or too softly as either could indicate a damaged voice or damaging behavior.
What is nasality? What causes nasality? Nasality is the activation of resonators in the nasal cavity. It is caused by a low soft palate that does not seal the passageway from the back of the throat into the nasal cavity. I'm confused about this. I understood it to be the opposite!
Define free singing. The term "free" when applied to singing is subjective. Opinions vary on what sounds free and what sounds forced. A clear indicator of a free voice is one that can maintain the same level of quality after a long period of use.
Define forced singing. When the singer is pushing their voice, pulling it, or trying to use extra muscles (in the body and larynx) to control a sound.
Define vibrato. Vibrato is the long-term, consistent oscillation around a sustained pitch.
What is the compass of a normal vibrato? Around a minor 2nd above and below the center pitch. Thus, a compass of a major second, approximately.
Describe the characteristics of regular vibrato. Regular vibrato is consistent in the speed of the oscillations and the range of the movement in pitch. When done correctly, the center pitch is easily heard despite the oscillation.
What does pitch-dominant vibrato sound like? A perpetual trill with no emphasis of the center pitch so that the intonation is difficult to hear.
What does loudness-dominant vibrato sound like? A goat bleating. In this case the singer is trying to fabricate vibrato by getting louder and softer.
What is the oscillation rate of a healthy, well-balanced vibrato? 4.5 - 7 cycles per second.
Define wobble. When vibrato is too slow (less than 4.5 cps) and is wide in pitch compass.
What causes wobble? Poor technique and aging, usually in conjunction with one another.
How can we avoid developing a wobble? Use proper vocal technique and practice good vocal hygiene.
Define flutter. When vibrato is faster than 7 cps.
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