Emily C., Listening Assignment 5, 2/20/14

Emily C., Listening Assignment 5, 2/20/14

Find two recordings (video or audio) that I can access online (youtube, spotify, etc.) in class.

Recording #1:  Find a singer who you believe is using a pressed voice quality

Recording #2:  Find a singer who you believe is using an aspirate voice quality

Extra credit if you can find samples from classical singing.

For each recording provide at least 3 things you might do as this performer’s hypothetical voice teacher to improve his/her voice quality.

1. Pressed quality: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU8wdrW9skQ “Caro mio ben” 

• Her jaw seems to be really locked into place; I would do a lot of jaw massaging, yawn motions, and loose/humming chew. I’d also have her sing [a] on a descending pattern. 
• At times, you can really hear that she’s “swallowing her own tongue” because it gets all tight in the back. I would probably have her stick/hold her tongue out with her hand and have her say “a” as in “cat.” 
• Her breathing/posture needs to be addressed; she’s moving all over the place, swaying from side to side, and there’s no stability. When she inhales, she releases the muscles in her neck and it almost seems as if she’s throwing her head back. I’d walk her through finding release in all of the places of balance (esp. the A-O joint). 

2. Aspirate quality: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyYP-DTrTCg “Dark Horse” Cover

• First thing I’d probably fix is her posture; she’s sitting (I’m assuming cross-legged) and she’s slouching over to be in front of the camera. That’d help her gasp-like breathing as well because it’d allow her to take in deeper breaths.
• Her jaw is also stuck in a mostly closed position, and it’s very tight. I would have her do the same jaw exercises that I listed for the previous video. 
• The back of her tongue is really tight as well; I’d have her sing on open vowels with a released jaw. 
• She may have an aspirate vocal quality, but I definitely don’t think she’s a hypofunctional singer…