Chapter Summary: Primal sound is the first key to discovering your voice. The primal voice is an involuntary sound; it is the sounds that we are born with. Animals and humans alike use these sounds to convey emotions and needs. Primal sounds "spring from our emotions" and the nerve center where emotions spring from is in the lower brain. The part of the brain where thoughts occur is in the upper brain or cortex. The upper and lower brain are in direct line, and work together. Finding our instinctual primal sounds is essential to healthy vocal production and freeing our voices in order to find out who we truly are. As singers, we must present our most honest and vulnerable self to our audiences through our primal sound. This is what moves our listeners. We are already born with the tools necessary for great vocal production, we just need to return to that inhibited primal sound. By using our emotions and experiences we can trigger the primal sound in our singing.
Oren explains an exercies to find your individual primal sound.
1. begin by saying "Huh!" as if you're surprised.
2. next say "uh huh" like you're agreeing.
3. now try "huh-huh" like a laugh or chuckle.
4. next try the prolonged "uh" as if you're indecisive.
5. extend that to a long sigh.
6. try extending the "huh" moving up and down in pitch.
7. Keeping things simple take a comfortable sufficient breath and begin a cry or whine sound. Let it slide in pitch, and continue until you are our of breath.
If you have succeeded...
8. "huh" in a prolonged downward sigh, repeat higher, and then lower.
9. Try producing a light laugh and prolong the last sound.
This excercise connects the Lower and upper brain. "You have started to bring a natural function into a willed action." This activity helps to establish consistency in finding and keeping the primal sound in your singing.
Speaking and singing directly influence eachother. Since we speak more than we sing, it is extremely important to speak with healthy voice habits. Be concious of how you use your voice throughout the day, because it does effect our technique and vocal health.
Key Terms: Primal Sound
Key Concepts: Primal sound is involuntary because they occur as a reaction to our emotions. Primal sound is honest and inhibited. Establishing healthy speaking habits is crucial to our success as singers.
Making Connections: Since reading this chapter I have become much more aware about my speaking voice and how it directly effects my singing. I have tried to be more careful about not only the health of my speaking voice, but I've also tried to encourage my friends to speak with healthy voice habits. I think that it makes a huge difference in the readiness of my singing voice. When reflecting on good vs. bad performances, I've come to recognize that when I had good performances I was initiating my primal sound by cuing past experiences and emotions. I've come to realize that primal sound is crucial to communication whilst singing.
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