Laura B SS Chapter 4

Laura B
Chapter Summary: This chapter, called simply speaking simply, focuses on helping us to learn to speak with clarity and without complications. The first step to doing this is to speak using our vernacular speech. This will allow to speak with the least amount of entanglement. In our natural vernacular, we say ni-ne-na-no-nu, with the order of vowels progressing from the lightest to the darkest. The next step is speaking with projection. using the same line (ni-ne-na-no-nu), the speaker would say the line as if speaking to someone in the next room. This increases the intensity and force of our conversational speech. Next is speaking with line, or legato. The singer will say 'ae' over and over again without stopping the voice connection. The singer must stay in the creative moment, constantly creating speech without driving the sound. The fourth step is to speak with projection and line on pitch. Everyone's speaking voice hovers around a certain pitch. In this exercise, we will use our vowel line from before. We begin by starting on a pitch around where we would normally speak and then move around the keyboard, having the singer speak ni-ne-na-no-nu on the different pitches. The last step is refining our vowels, where we concentrate on purifying the vowels without our natural diphthongs. The base of our tongue can also be a big issue when speaking freely and clearly. It is important that it is not tensed downward and in a forward motion, which can be felt by placing our thumb on the neck right under the chin.
Key Concept: Correct speaking is a precursor for correct singing.
Key Terms: Simply speaking simply, entanglements, intrinsic/extrinsic muscles, vernacular speaking, subglottal pressure, diphthong, refine, base of the tongue, crack
Making Connections: Speaking purely has always been a challenge for me, because I tend to be very tense in my jaw, and well as the base of tongue. I look forward to applying this invention into my practice so that I can free up my speaking, and in turn my singing.