Elizabeth Tait SS Ch. 10 Summary

Summary: This chapter, Playing the Game, was quite a hodge-podge of many different points of advice on to be a real musician.  Gaining vocal technique is only the first part of the journey; this chapter begins to speak of the rest of the journey.  Smith first speaks of vowel definition; in the previous chapters he only referenced the 5 Italian vowels.  However, any vowel can be sung with "legato technique" if the air is flowing freely, the articulators are kept out of the way, and the jaw is always in an [a] position.  Therefore, you shouldn't have to substitute any vowels when you get the extremes of the range.  Free flowing air and good articulators will accomplish bright vowels even on the highest pitchs.  His section about consonants follows the same vein: consonants must be achieved with as little interruption to the airflow as possible (this is the same for double consonants.)  Smith talks for a bit about shadow vowels:  make sure if a shadow vowel at the end of a consonant-ending word is necessary, make sure it is not a flat vowel, but a lifted one.  All of what has been mentioned thus far is to assist in proper diction.  However, proper diction is only the stepping stone to the real issue at hand, which is communication.
Smith goes on to talk about musicianship and musicality.  The main point he makes is that the most musical thing a person can do is to sing well.  The voice is a very naturally musical instrument, so we just have to let it do it's job!  Then he speaks of dynamics: piano is only a color, not a decibel level.  Next is fioratura: any voice can sing it well, not just light voices.  It's just that heavy voices can't get away with being tight.  He lists a 5 step process to practice these passages.  The theme of this chapter remains the same.  With staccato, wide interval leaps, belting, changing styles, anything, just use your good old legato technique that Stevy Smith taught you.    
Key Terms:
Legato technique
separation of function
vowel substitution
double consonants
shadow vowels
"diction"
musicianship vs. musicality
Key Concepts: No matter what you are struggling with vocally, just return to legato technique of balancing chiaro and oscuro.
Making Connections: There was so much information in this chapter!  I like that when you look at all of his solutions, they are all simple: sing well.  That's all you need to do!  Well, let's get to work then...