Members DonGeo Posted November 12, 2009 Members Share Posted November 12, 2009 Hello everyone, This is about bel canto technique but it might apply to other styles as well. The only way I can feel vibrations in the 'mask area' is when my soft palate is down and contiguous with the back of the tongue (which is raised). This seals off the mouth and gives a really nasal sound. When I lift the soft palate and lower the tongue and the larynx, the 'right' mouth position as I have been taught to understand it, I cannot get a pinch of resonance in the mask - it all stays in my mouth and throat. It seems as if I have the proper structural configuration in place for a good tone, and I suspect that my problem is with my breathing. I'm sure many of you have been through this stage of looking for resonance and would be kind enough to share some advice. So, how can one achieve head/mask resonance without lowering the soft palate/raising the tongue? Many Thanks, DonGeo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members grace_slick Posted November 13, 2009 Members Share Posted November 13, 2009 I'd like to know this too...*all eyes* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members romvert Posted November 13, 2009 Members Share Posted November 13, 2009 The resonance you get with a closed throat is physically more ample than good resonance from an open one, hence the strong nasal buzz yielded by the hum. Breath support and focus/placement will give you better timbre anywhere in your range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jvardon Posted November 13, 2009 Members Share Posted November 13, 2009 oooh......am listening too. i mean watching. oh! now i get the all eyes thing. lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jvardon Posted November 14, 2009 Members Share Posted November 14, 2009 Question, how does one go about focusing the sound into the mask.I dont think I sing that way and I've been wanting too but havent managed a way to do it. I dont think so anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members grace_slick Posted November 14, 2009 Members Share Posted November 14, 2009 oooh......am listening too. i mean watching. oh! now i get the all eyes thing. lol. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DonGeo Posted November 14, 2009 Author Members Share Posted November 14, 2009 The resonance you get with a closed throat is physically more ample than good resonance from an open one, hence the strong nasal buzz yielded by the hum. Breath support and focus/placement will give you better timbre anywhere in your range. Thank you. By closed throat, I assume that you mean the closing of the soft palate with the back of the tongue, effectively sealing off the pharynx from the mouth. Strangely, when I lift my soft palate and examine my mouth with a magnifying mirror (lovely) it looks as if a raised palate actually seals off the passage to my sinuses - is this true? Focus is the end I am trying to achieve, however, objectively described, it must be some combination of breath support and pharyngyeal muscular configuration - this is what I importune someone to write out or direct me to. Truly, DonGeo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members iago Posted November 14, 2009 Members Share Posted November 14, 2009 Oh my Lord. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mamma Cat Posted November 15, 2009 Members Share Posted November 15, 2009 Try visualizing things. Visualization is a powerful tool for focusing the tone in the right place. When your breath is functioning properly, when your soft palate is raised and tongue lowered, you should try to get the air hitting the front of your hard palate, as shown in this picture (6). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members romvert Posted November 15, 2009 Members Share Posted November 15, 2009 Thank you. By closed throat, I assume that you mean the closing of the soft palate with the back of the tongue, effectively sealing off the pharynx from the mouth. Strangely, when I lift my soft palate and examine my mouth with a magnifying mirror (lovely) it looks as if a raised palate actually seals off the passage to my sinuses - is this true?Focus is the end I am trying to achieve, however, objectively described, it must be some combination of breath support and pharyngyeal muscular configuration - this is what I importune someone to write out or direct me to.Truly,DonGeo No, the tongue and pharynx have nothing to do with the hum. The soft palate closes against the back of the throat. Something easy you can try is starting your scales with a hum, opening up to the respective vowel you're practicing. Try to maintain as much buzz from the hum into the vowel as you can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members grace_slick Posted November 15, 2009 Members Share Posted November 15, 2009 I think some people have a tendency to over-analyse things sometimes...shining a torch into your mouth to see what's going on is sort of...I mean, sure it can HELP I guess, but I just think it's sort of like a songwriter reading every book ever written about how to write songs because they can't (yet) write any themselves...shouldn't singing just COME? And even if it doesn't naturally come, I don't think looking at anatomy is necessarily that much of a help... I think anyone with issues like this should have at least one voice lesson (this applies to me as much as anyone else) Hey Mama Cat, have you listened to one of my latest clips, Angel by Sarah McLachlan? (named Angel SM on my soundclick page) You might like it if you like that sort of sweet, nice singing from me previously, heheh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JDRock Posted November 15, 2009 Members Share Posted November 15, 2009 try practicing with your head tilted BACK ...say, like sitting in a chair with your head tilted back...if your looking to develop resonance this has been ,for me a good starting point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DonGeo Posted November 15, 2009 Author Members Share Posted November 15, 2009 I think some people have a tendency to over-analyse things sometimes... Lol, I know. I'm studying medicine, maybe that's why I'm so eager to get a torch and some mirrors in there and sort things out I've been studying with a very good bel canto professor for just over a year now and this is a sticking point I can't get past naturally. Ah, but poetry doesn't just 'come' , you need to know your history, the classics, philosophy, a little prosody. Thank you everyone for your help. DonGeo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mamma Cat Posted November 16, 2009 Members Share Posted November 16, 2009 Hey Mama Cat, have you listened to one of my latest clips, Angel by Sarah McLachlan? (named Angel SM on my soundclick page) You might like it if you like that sort of sweet, nice singing from me previously, heheh. No, sorry, I've barely been to the forum. Will take a listen when I can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members grace_slick Posted November 16, 2009 Members Share Posted November 16, 2009 Goodo, thank you! Don Geo, I'm the queen of over-analysing, so we're in the same boat. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JetCityMatt Posted November 19, 2009 Members Share Posted November 19, 2009 You aren't opening your mouth way up and therefore losing all your resonance are you? Try keeping the "ooh" mouth shape as much as you can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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