Chapter Summary: This invention is a synthesis of the skills learned so far. It involves an ascending scale that goes for an octave and a fourth, and then returns back down, alternating on an [e] [o] and [a] vowel. Smith focuses on the sensation of shifting between the high and low range in this exercise. It should feel like automatic transmission - effortless and seamless - rather than like manual transmission. We don't need to focus on shifting or do anything, we just let the voice do its thing.
Key Concepts: The voice should be able to sing any dynamic, any mix, on any pitch in their range without "shifting gears". These inventions are designed to give singers that level of versatility. This invention is directed at creating seamless and natural shifts in the voice.
Key Terms:
messa di voce - the ability to shift from pianissimo to forte and back without an perceptible shift in the voice.
Making Connections: Wow! That's pretty incredible that he can use falsetto on any pitch in his range. I can't even do a satisfactory crescendo, decrescendo in the smack middle of my range. I really like his comparison between manual and automatic transmission (people in New York don't know how to drive?). I realize now that I make a conscious decision when I shift between head voice and chest voice. I agree that the ideal shift would be imperceptible and would occur without my mental involvement.
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