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La u r e l& Da v i d Oct ober2016 Laur el I r ene Di r ect or ,CoFounderat V oi ceSci enceWor k s
Dav i dHar r i s Di r ect or ,CoFounderat V oi ceSci enceWor k s
www. voi cesci enceworks. org
c anI t ak emeh i ghe n o u gh ? byc ur tmc der mot t
Ih i tt h ec h o r u swi t hz e a l , t r y i n gt oma t c hSe a l ’ se a r n e s t , f i s t c l e n c h e dl o n g i n g : “ Ey y y y ’ v e …b e e n n n …k i s s e db yar o o s eo nt h eg r a v e ! ” 1 I nf a l s e t t o , o fc o u r s e . MyWy o mi n gb u d d y , ag e n t l eh o s twh o ’ se n d u r e dmo r et h a nt wo d e c a d e so fmyi d i o s y n c r a s i e s , s a y s , “ Du d e . I ’ v es e e ny o ut h r e et i me si nt h ep a s ty e a r . An d a l lt h r e et i me s , y o u ’ v eb e e ns i n g i n gt h a tg o d d a mns o n gi nt h a tg o d d a mnv o i c e . ”
Mi n u t e sl a t e r , a c r o s st h eh o u s e :“ Yo o o or e ma i n …myp o we r , myp l e a s u r e , myP AI N! ”He ’ s f e e l i n gi tt o o . I nf a l s e t t o , o fc o u r s e . No t wi t h s t a n d i n gt h ei mp l i c a t i o n sf o rb o t ho u rma r r i a g e s —a n dt h er a g i n gI n t e r n e td e b a t e o v e rwh e t h e rt h el y r i ci sa c t u a l l y“ g r e y , ”n o t“ g r a v e ” —we ’ r er a r e l ye mb a r r a s s e dt os h a r e o u rg i f t so fv o c a lg l i t t e rwi t he a c ho t h e r . Ime tt h eg u ywh e nIwo r eh u s k y s i z ej e a n s . He u s e dt oo wnap a r r o tt h a two u l df r e q u e n t l ya n ds u r r e p t i t i o u s l yc r a pd o wnt h eb a c ko fh i s s h i r t s . Weh a v en o t h i n gt oh i d e . Ta k eo u rs h o wo nt h er o a d , t h o u g h , a n dh i d i n gi st h eo n l yo p t i o n . Re a l l y . It e a c h , a n dI ’ m wa i t i n gf o rt h ed a ywh e ns o mes t u d e n tSn a p c h a t smyf a l s e t t os o l oo nt h emo r n i n gc o mmu t e . Th a twi l lb et h ee n do fme . Tr ys p u r r i n gak i dt op o e t r ya n a l y s i swh e nt h e y ’ v eh e a r dy o u r v e r s i o no fHa p p y , s u n gi nar e g i s t e ry o uh a v e n ’ tr e a c h e dn a t u r a l l ys i n c ey o u rwa i s t h i g h n i e c el a s tp u n c h e dy o u . I t ’ sn o tt h a tp u b l i cs i n g i n gs c a r e sme —Ih a v eal o n ga n ds t o r i e dh i s t o r yo fma k i n ga na s so f my s e l fi nc h o i r s , k a r a o k eb a r s , a n dKn i c k r e h mEl e me n t a r y ’ sa n n u a lCh r i s t ma sc o n c e r t . No , i t ’ ss o me t h i n ga b o u tt h a tr e g i s t e r —s i mu l t a n e o u s l yi n t o x i c a t i n ga n dv e r b o t e n —t h a tk e e p s myf a l s e t t oc o n f i n e dt ot h es h o we r , t h ewo o d s h o p , t h el o n e l yc o u n t r yr o a d . Ot h e rp e o p l eh a v en os u c hc o n f l i c t s . Ca s ei np o i n t :Re c e n t l ya tt h eCh a r l o t t ea i r p o r t , ac h i l d 2 s c r e a me dl i k eawo u n d e dp r a i r i er o d e n t , a n dt h er e s u l t i n ga r i a —o n l yan o t eo rt woa wa y f r o mmyr e a l l yg o o dRa d i o h e a ds t u f f —d i ds o me t h i n gt ot h ea s s e mb l e dt r a v e l e r s . I tmo v e d u s . Wec o u l d n ’ ts h u ti to f f . I tg o ti no u rh e a d sa n dp i c k e da te v e r ys y n a p s ea n dn e u r o nu n t i l wec o u l d n ’ tt h i n ko fa n ymo r eb r a i n r e l a t e dwo r d s . Th emo t h e rc o o e d , p l e a d e d , r o c k e d , t h r e a t e n e d , c a j o l e d , a n dp u b l i c a l l ys h a me du n t i lt h a t _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Id ot h i ss t u f fa l lt h et i me . J u s tb r o k ei n t os o mef r e e s t y l e , i nf a c t , wh i l eg r a b b i n gab a go fc h i p sf r o mt h ec u p b o a r d —a n u p b e a tl i t t l ed i t t y , s o r to fEn y a e s q u ep a e a nt ot h es n a c kg o d s . 2 Byt h ewa y , wh yt h a tp a r t i c u l a rp i t c h ?Wh a te v o l u t i o n a r ya d v a n t a g ec o u l dp o s s i b l yb eg a i n e db yt h ej u x t a p o s i t i o no f i n f a n tb r a i na n df i r et r u c k ?Wo u l d n ’ tt h ec h i l db eb e t t e rs e r v e d —wo u l d n ’ twea l lb eb e t t e rs e r v e d —b yag e n t l eb a r i t o n e , b u r b l i n gl i k ed i s t a n tt h u n d e ra si tt u mb l e sp a s tt o o t h l e s sg u ms ?An yp a i nh e ’ sf e e l i n gs o o t h e d , a si fb ymo t h e r ’ swo mb y b a s s b e a th e a r t , i nt h ev e r ya c to fc o mp l a i n i n g ?I ma g i n ei t :ab i l l i o nl i t t l ec h i l l e d o u tBa r r yWh i t e sr e mi n d i n gu st h a to u r l o v ec a n ’ tb eg o t t e ne n o u g ho f —o h , a n dt h a twes h o u l db u ymo r ej u i c yj u i c e , p l e a s e . 1
Cu r t Mc De r mo t t i sah i g hs c h o o l E n g l i s ht e a c h e r a n d l o v e r o f g h o s t s t o r i e s , c o mi cb o o k s , a n dt h eOx f o r d c o mma . Hea n dh i swi f el i v ei nNe wHa mp s h i r ewi t ha d o ga n ds e v e r a l d u c k s . S e emo r eo f h i ss t u f f a t F a c e b o o k . c o m/ Ha l l o wp e n Cu r t Mc De r mo t t , o r c h u c kh i m a ne ma i l a t c mc d e r mo t t @g ma i l . c o m.
s o u n df i n a l l ys n a r l e db a c kt ot h eh e l lf r o mwh e n c ei tc a me , a n dIs we a rwea l lt o o kas wi g o fo v e r p r i c e dDa s a n ii nr e l i e f . 3 Ye ti fI ’ mn o tmi s t a k e n , wel o v ep a y i n g f o rt h i sh i g h p i t c h e ds t u f f . Ge th i ms o meb a c k u p v o c a l s , a n dt h ek i dwo u l db eas h o e i nf o rJ a ySi e g e l ’ sf a l s e t t oo n“ Th eLi o nSl e e p s To n i g h t ” —t h es o n g , c o v e r e du mp t e e nt i me ss i n c eSo l o mo nLi n d a ’ so r i g i n a l , s e r v e sa sa n e n d u r i n gmo n u me n tt ob y p a s s e dv o c a lc o r d s . An dt h e r e ’ sal o tmo r ef a l s e t t oo u tt h e r e , p e o p l e . Fr o mTe mp t a t i o nt oTi mb e r l a k e , me nh a v eb e e ns i n g i n gl i k ec h i l d r e na n dr e a p i n g t h emo n e t a r yr e wa r d sf o ra tl e a s ta sl o n ga swe ’ v eb e e na b l et or e c o r dt h e m. I nf a c t , d o n ’ t wee v e na s s o c i a t eac e r t a i nma c h i s mowi t hf a l s e t t o ?Wh a tc o u l db ema n l i e rt h a nFr a n k i e Va l l i et e l l i n gu st og e tu po f fo u rmo p e yk e i s t e r sa n dwa l kl i k eme n , d a mmi t ?An dt h o s e f a l s e t t o o n l yf r e a k s , t h eBe eGe e s , a r es oa s s u r e do ft h e i rv i r i l i t yt h e yc a n ’ te v e ns p a r et h e 4 t i met ot a l ka b o u ti t .
Wi t hs oma n yp o s i t i v er o l emo d e l s , t h e n , wh yd oIr e t r e a ti n t oi r o n ywh e n e v e rI ’ mc a u g h t wi t hmyv o i c eu p ?Ima k eaf u n n yf a c e , d oaq u i c kl i t t l et wo s t e p —a n y t h i n gt os a y“ I twa s a l laj o k e , y o uf o o l s ;I ’ dn e v e rs i n gl i k et h i sf o rr e a l ! ”I fBa r r yGi b bc a np u l li to f f , wh y c a n ’ tI ?5 Ma y b eI ’ mj u s td o i n gi twr o n g . Af t e ra l l , t h ema s t e r so ff a l s e t t oh a v en of e a r . MJs q u e a l s a n dp a wsh i sc r o t c hwi t had i a mo n dg l o v e . El v i sp e l v i s e sh i swa yi n t oy o u rl o n e s o me n i g h t . It h i n kb a c ko nt h a ta i r p o r tk i d —wa i l i n gf o rh i sma ma . It h i n ko fLi t t l eRi c h a r d , wa i l i n gf o ra ne n t i r e l yd i f f e r e n tk i n do fma ma . I st h a ti tt h e n ?I smyf a l s e t t os i mp l y s o me t h i n gt os a y , “ Lo o ka tme . I ’ ms t i l lp r e c i o u s , a n dIwa n n ak n o wwh a tl o v ei s ” ?J u s t a n o t h e rh i g h p i t c h e dp r a y e rt ob ep l u c k e df r o mt h i swi c k e dg a mea n de mb r a c e d , c o mf o r t e d , k i s s e d ? Byar o s e ?Ont h eg r e y / a v e ?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 3
“ Pa y ”i nmyc a s eme a n i n gas h o r t , f r e ec r u i s ea r o u n dSp o t i f y .
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No tt ome n t i o nt h er e a l l ys e x ys t u f f :Ih a v eaf e e l i n gt h a tPr i n c ea n dFr e d d i eMe r c u r yp l a y e di nr a p i ds u c c e s s i o nmi g h t r i po p e nawo r mh o l eo fl u s tf r o mwh i c hn o n eb u tt h emo s ts t a i do fu sc o u l de s c a p e . 5
Ie v e ns h a r eh i ss we e tb e a r d .
Dr . J e r e myMa nt e r na c h As s i s t a ntP r of e s s orofVoc a l / Chor a l Mus i cE duc aon T heUni v e r s i t yofI owa
“ I fasi ngl edancercanper f or m di v er seandcompl i cat ed chor eogr aphyasj ustonebody movi ngandchangi ngt oaccompl i sh agoal ,whyar esi nger sof t en l i mi t edt oonewayofusi ngt he v oi ce?” -Chr i st i na Laur Nuer nber ger
Thoughtson“ Natural” “ AsIhav er ecent l ymov ed t oanewci t yandam now l i vi ngwi t hbr andnewpeopl e,I hav ej ustr eal i z edI ’ v emade somechangest omyown ‘ nat ur al ’sound. ” Car l eyBuckl ey
“ Wi t houthavi ngany sci ent i f i cpr oofIt hi nki ti s possi bl et ol ear nnewsounds wi t hout‘ havi ngt ohav e somet hi ngt oi mi t at e’ .T hebr ai n al wayswant st o‘ l ear n’andwi l l expl or eand‘ dot hi ngs’wi t hout havi ngt obepr omot ed. ” AxelT hei mer
pl ay and l i s t en
f ahad s i adat Compos er / Per f or merwww. f ahads i adat . com Di r ect or ,SeeADotMus i cPubl i s hi ng,i nc.www. s eeadot . com
J er emyWi neber g www. j er emy wi neber g. net
In 2010, a happenstance meeting takes place on the platform of the A Train at 59th Street/Columbus Circle. As can sometimes be expected, the train is significantly delayed. Maestro: Why, Socrateez, how is it that you find yourself up here near the hub of the artistic world? Socrateez: Maestro! What a pleasure to see you. I thought I’d take a stroll in the Park, and was just heading back. But I would think it a rarity for you to be seen underground? Maestro: Really. You must think I’m one of those stuck up celebrities who never venture to use the subway! I like a good turn on the tube, as it were, though, given the predictability of the A Train, I may think better of it the next time. Socrateez: Do you know that I have heard that some singers practice in the subway tunnels so that they can focus on the feeling of their sound while the subway goes by, since they can’t hear anything in those moments. Maestro: Yes, I’ve known a few. It’s kind of a waste of time if you ask me. Anyone who can do that has natural talent, and what do they need with practicing in a filthy hole in the ground? Socrateez: You must have so many stories of working with talented people. Though, I can’t help but
wonder after the word “natural”. Might you be willing to shed some light for me on what makes someone naturally talented? Maestro: Isn’t it rather obvious? When people can sing, they have talent. I’ve been in this business long enough to know that stars are not made, they’re more or less born that way. Socrateez: So the talented people are talented from birth? Maestro: Perhaps not from day one, but they have the general material in place, yes. Socrateez: And what kinds of materials does a natural talent possess at such a tender age? Maestro: Well, it has to do with the shape and size of their instrument, their dimensions, the strength of their vocal cords, and healthy abdominal muscles to produce the support needed for such grueling activity as the singing of opera. Socrateez: Do you think you’d be able to look at a child and tell whether they were going to be a great opera star? Maestro: Well, not exactly. A child hasn’t fully developed yet, so they are unable to handle the emotional and dramatic challenges of the great arias, not to mention the difficulty of singing the classics.
Socrateez: Emotion and drama? Are these elements tied to the size and shape of one’s larynx?
generations, and it’s operatic. All other sounds are cheap imitations, and unnatural.
Maestro: You’re confusing the point. Only certain people have perfectly shaped bodies to support the most difficult singing. They have natural physical talent, one might say, in that their bodies can do what no one else’s can. But someone has to live before they can truly understand what it means to sing opera.
Socrateez: So, if I were to bark on stage, let’s say, that would be an unnatural sound? A sound for which I had to alter my nature-given state to perform?
Socrateez: How fortunate for those few people who are born with such uncommonly perfect proportions, and who have the good fortune to live! Maestro: Indeed. That’s why there are so few naturally talented singers out there. Oh, I hear a train, I hope it’s mine. Socrateez: Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that’s on the wrong side. It should be the D or the B Train. Maestro: Damn. Well, back to what I was saying, it takes a steady ear to pick these people out of the crowd. Socrateez: And what does it take to develop an ear such as yours? Maestro: Years of training and exposure to the best singers in the world. Socrateez: That does seem to make since, but, I’m curious, about other forms of singing besides opera. Can your ear pick out the best gospel singers from a crowd, for example? Maestro: There is no other kind of singing besides opera. No natural kind, at least, to use your words. Those people simply don’t have what it takes, or were too impatient to pursue their true calling. It’s a waste of talent if you ask me. Socrateez: Can’t people make a large range of sounds with their voices? Why are opera singers the only ones who can call themselves singers? Maestro: Well, I suppose you could bark like a pig on stage for an hour, but I dare say no one would show up to hear you. The voice has one way that it works, and that way has been studied and trained for
Maestro: Do you normally bark like a pig? Socrateez: Not on a daily basis, but I can quite easily imitate that animal without strain or difficulty. Maestro: See, but imitation isn’t natural, it’s imitation. Socrateez: So, nature has provided us with specific sounds that are natural for all of us, but limited to a very few whose select proportions and lifestyles have given them the capacity to be singers? Maestro: You make it sound so limiting. There have been a great many naturally talented people in the world. Socrateez: Ok, but who gets to decide what talent looks like? Loads of people love listening to rock n roll, bluegrass, why, even choral singing has a following. Maestro: I have no patience for the masses. If they knew what great art was, they would have studied and learned about beauty. Socrateez: So those who have studied are the ones who get to decide what natural is? Maestro: Contrarily, those who have studied are able to discern between natural talent and all of the imitators. Where is that train! It must be coming soon. Wait, I hear another one. No, it’s on the other track again. Socrateez: All the better for me, since I now have begun to understand this quandary, and will enjoy the further benefit of your company to help me decipher more details. If I have understood, only opera singers who have perfect proportions and a chance to live can be called singers, that the human voice may make many sounds, but is only built to make certain sounds, those that are in service of opera, and therefore singing, and that only those who
have studied have the capacity to define whether or not a given singer is performing in service of their natural talent, that is, if they had it in the first place? Maestro: That about sums it up, yes. Socrateez: Again, I can’t thank you enough for sharing the benefit of your great knowledge with me, but on another matter I am still confused. How does someone begin to know that they are talented in the ways that you have described? Maestro: Clearly, they need the guidance of a trained ear, that is, a master teacher, someone who truly understands the voice and what it can do. Socrateez: What if they are unfortunate enough to not have access to a master teacher? Maestro: It is true that some teachers are not as capable as others. I dare say that there aren’t but a handful of master teachers in the world, and I know them all. Still, if a young singer is truly serious about discovering their talent, they will enlist in a proper voice studio, one that respects the old traditions and whose teacher listens to the words of the masters, and they will be patient. Socrateez: But, why would someone who had a unique gift not know on their own that they were naturally talented? Maestro: If people could simply know, then more of them would be great instead of singing in ways that are an affront to their natural voices. Socrateez: I assume you are referring again to popular music? Maestro: Precisely. The screeching, whining, screaming, all of it that is going to ruin their voices before they’re thirty. It’s not music. Socrateez: What about the seventy-five-year-old pop singers who have had long careers? Maestro: They are still damaged, and have just gotten lucky that their voices didn’t quit entirely. Plus, they’ve had all kinds of surgeries, and have to use microphones to make any sound at all.
Socrateez: If they had known a master teacher, might they have used their voices differently? Maestro: We can only presume, given that a master teacher would have shown them how to find their natural voice. Socrateez: And what about all of the opera singers who don’t make it to become great? Maestro: Not everyone has talent, and those that do can’t always successfully find their natural voice. Socrateez: Is it ever the master teacher’s fault? Maestro: The master teacher knows their craft perfectly. Those who are less skilled can make mistakes and mess people up, though. I’ve seen that hundreds of times. A young singer whose teacher completely messed up her voice, where her only hope was to get with a master teacher and hope to undo the damage by starting over from scratch. Socrateez: How lucky for those who get to work with master teachers! But, if singers can only find assurance that they will find their natural voice with a master teacher, but they may mess up their voice with any other teacher, and there aren’t many master teachers, then why wouldn’t they just take their chances on their own and use whatever voice they happen to end up with? Maestro: Because the pursuit of beauty can only be found in the natural voice, and the risk of working with a less skilled teacher has better odds that you will get near to a master teacher. The proof is in the pudding. Look at all the people who sing unnaturally in the world. That should settle the debate once and for all. Socrateez: What’s that? Ah, it seems a switching error at 50th Street has been the cause of our delay the whole time. Maestro: And you wonder why I don’t frequent these holes. Socrateez: I have to say that I’m happy for the delay today, since I’ve been given the chance to hear your wisdom on the topic of singing, a subject that I have long sought clarity on.
Maestro: Yes, I suppose I’m happy to have had the company if I were going to be stuck here. Socrateez: But there is one matter that still confuses me. You mention that the master teacher knows how to tell which voices have natural talent, and how to train those singers to fulfill their talent, yes? But aren’t there many different types of voices in opera? How is a singer or a teacher supposed to tell which kind of voice they have? Maestro: You mean that you can’t tell the difference between a coloratura soprano and a lyric baritone? Socrateez: Perhaps, but humor me. Maestro: Again, it’s how you were born. Look, people’s voices have specific qualities that are unique to them, and they should only use those qualities or risk hurting themselves or sounding bad. Socrateez: And what are those qualities? Maestro: It’s all in the Fach system: range, color, repertoire, speed, etc. Socrateez: So, the Fach system is the true measure of natural? Maestro: It’s a trusted way to help people understand what category they fit into, and what their natural voice is. Socrateez: Who designed it? Maestro: The past masters, after hundreds of years of study. Socrateez: How did they know how to create the different categories? Maestro: They were much closer to people’s natural voices back then. Singers sang the way they were meant to, and no one had microphones or all of these new laboratories to mess up what nature gave them. They simply used their ears and good perception. They listened to the great singers, and shaped the system from the way people sang. Socrateez: So their capacity to hear natural voices and therefore classify them came from being closer to nature?
Maestro: Exactly. Socrateez: That sounds exciting, but, there is a problem with this definition, I fear, that centers, again, around how we know what is natural. It would seem, by your definition, that natural is what the master teacher approves of, yet of equal weight, the teacher relies on what is natural to determine who is talented. None of this appears to be in relationship with nature, either, being as that which is natural should be known by nature itself, rather than forced to be arbitrated by any perceived authority. How can nature, less well represented, stand for both the arbitrator and the arbitrated simultaneously? Maestro: I believe that you have misunderstood my point. Socrateez: Indeed? Maestro: There are ways to sing well, and other ways. Those who know how to sing do so naturally, and those who know what that sounds like are gifted at discerning the difference. All the rest are simply confused. Socrateez: Again, I must say, that your thoughts have been most illuminating, and that I appreciate your patience in speaking with me. This appears to be your train, and I wouldn’t want to keep you any longer. Maestro: It was good to speak with you again, and to have passed this otherwise dull time. Good day to you.
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Whatdoesi tmeant os i ngors peak“ nat ur al l y’ ? Does“ nat ur al ” s peaki ng/ s i ngi ngi mpl yt hatt her ei soneopt i mum wayf oreachper s on t ocr eat es ound? S i ng i ngort a l k i ngna t ur a l l yequa t es t os oundpr oduc edwi t hno t houg htore ffor tbehi ndi t . I t ’ s a l mos tl i k ei fy ouwer epl a c edona de f a ul ts e ng . I t ’ sy our“ g ot o” s ound. Y oua l l owy ourbody c ompl e t ea ndt ot a l f r eedom t o wor kwi t houtc ons t a nt l yt hi nk i ngof howt hebodyneedst obe pos ionedi nor dert oma k et he s ound. Howe v er , huma nbei ng sc a n a da pt . Wea r ea bl et oa dj us ta nd r ea c tt oourenv i r onmenta nd t hos ei ni te v eni fwea r enotf ul l y c ons c i ousoft hi sc ha ng e.
Na t ur a l mea nsa l l owi ngt hev oi c et o r es pondf r eel y( wi t houta ny c ons c i ousa empt st oc ont r ol t he wa ywec ommuni c a t eor‘ t r y i ngt o g e tapoi nta c r os s ’ )a ndt husha v ei t r e flec t / e x pr es sa ndc ommuni c a t et he emo ona l c ont entofac onv er s aon, as ong , api ec eofmus i ca nd‘ l i f ei n g ener a l ’ –wi t houta nypr e t ens i on.
T oquot eonev oi c es c i en s t , “ s i ng i ngi sa nunna t ur a l a c t ! ”T he pr i ma r yf unconoft hel a r y nxi sf or pr ot econ:t ok eeppeopl es a f e wheneanga nddr i nk i ng( no Hei ml i c hma neuv erher epl ea s e! ) a ndt oma na g ea i r flowf or r es pi r aon. Us i ngt hev oi c ef or s peec ha nds i ng i ngi sa na ddiona l f unconde v el oped, e v ol v ed,a nd ov er l a i dt hr oug h me. S i ng i ngc a n bes eenmuc hl i k eaba l l e tda nc er onhert oes . Ada nc erfir s twa l k ed ont wofla tf ee ta ndt hr oug h t r a i ni ngde v el opedt hes k i l l st o s t a nd, t ur n, a ndj umpi nahi g h i nt ens i t ywa y , a l l t hewhi l ema k i ng i tl ook“ na t ur a l ”a nd“ ea s y . ”
Y ourv oi c e( a nden r ebody )i s e x pr es s i v e( a ndt hus‘ na t ur a l ’ ) unl es swet r yt o‘ c ont r ol ’ i t . ‘ T r y i ng’ t obena t ur a l orma k i ng a ne ffor tt obee x pr es s i v ewi l l ber ec ei v eda sbei nga rfic i a l a ndf a k e.
I ha v er ec ent l yr ea l i z edt ha tI ’ v e ma des omec ha ng est omyown “ na t ur a l ”s ound. Myr oomma t e i sav er yha ppya ndupbea t per s ona ndI ’ v ef oundmy s el f us i nghers a mei nfleconswhen I s pea k . T her ea r esl l di snconsi nourv oi c esa nd t ones . Howe v er , s i nc ewe s t a r t edl i v i ngwi t hea c hot heri n l a t eAug us t , t her eha v ebeen dr a scc ha ng est omy“ na t ur a l ” s ound.
I l i k et het houg htofus i ng t hebr ea t ha ndt hev oi c e t og e t her . I l i k el ea r ni ng br ea t hi ngt ec hni quest o s oundmor el i k emyt r ue s el f .
I ss i ng i nga c t ua l l y“ na t ur a l , ”ori st hi sdes c r i pt or awa yofg e nga tot herc onc ept ss uc ha sea s e a ndl ea s tr es i s t a nc ei nv oi c et r a i ni ng ?O en, a s as peec hl a ng ua g epa t hol og i s ta ndv oi c e s pec i a l i s t , I findmy s el ft r a ns l angt hi si deaof na t ur a l nes sa ndea s ei nt ot hes t r uc t ur e ( a na t omy )a ndf uncon( phy s i ol og y )oft he v oi c e, a l l wi t hi nt hef r a me wor koft hepr i ma r y pr ot ecv ef unconsoft hel a r y nx .
Cani mi t at i onsevers oundnat ur al ?I si t pos s i bl et ol ear nt ocr eat enew s oundswi t hout i mi t at i on?
I don' tt hi nkt ha ti mi t aonsc a ns ound na t ur a l butI ' v ene v erbeent es t edoni t . Wel ea r nt or ec og ni z et hefir s ts ounds‘ be f or ewea r e bor n’ . Voi c eswe‘ hea rpr ena t a l l y ’ a r ef a mi l i a rt ousa t bi r t ha ndg i v eusas ens eofc omf or ta nds ec ur i t ya er wea r ebor n. T her e f or e, we‘ i mi t a t e’ t hes oundoft he v oi c est ha ta r ef a mi l i a r , s i nc el ea r ni nga tt ha ta g e( a nd a l wa y s ? )i sba s edonobs er v i nga ndma t c hi ng–t a k i ng ‘ t a r g e tpr a cc e’ un l ‘ we’ a r es as fiedwi t ht her es ul t s– a l t houg ht hi si mi t aon( a tt ha ta g e)i snotc ons c i ous l y ‘ i nt en ona l ’ a si tmi g htbec omel a t eri nl i f e.
Ba a !Ba da ba g a deeg uhdee! T ha ti sba byt a l kf or , “ Hi !I t ’ sg ood t os eey ou! ”Don’ tbel i e v eme? Wel l per ha psi twa s n’ tapr ec i s e t r a ns l aon, buti tha da dul t s peec hs oundsa nda dul t i nt onaon. Andmos tl i k el y , s omeonea ns wer edwi t ha r es pons ei nahi g hpi t c hed, s i ng s ongwa y( c a l l i tMot her es e) . T hi si st hef oundaonf orl ea r ni ng t hes oundsofal a ng ua g e, dec i pher i ngt her ul esoft ha t l a ng ua g e, a ndbeg i nni ngt o a emptpr og r es s i v el ymor e c ompl e xwor ds , phr a s es , a nd e v ent ua l l ys ent enc es .
Y es , I t hi nkt ha twec a npl a ywi t hour v oi c est oma k ene ws ounds . Ma y be t he ya r ei mi t a t edf r om s ome wher e, a ndI g ues st ha ti showwel ea r nour v oi c esfir s t , a sba bi es .
I nmye x per i enc e, i mi t aonsc a n s oundna t ur a l buts ome mesi t r equi r esa dj usngy our s el f( i . e. v oc a l t r a c k , t ong uepos ion, e t c . )i n or dert opr oduc et het a r g e ts ound. F ore x a mpl e, I a m ahug ef a nof Adel e. I l ov ehermus i ca ndI enj oy c ov er i nghers ong s . Howe v er , t her e a r e meswher eI ha v et r oubl e c ompl e ngaphr a s eorhi ngt he k e yc ha ng e. Att ha tpoi nt , I l i s t ent o hows hes i ng si ta nda emptt o i mi t a t eherbys hii ngmyown na t ur a l / de f a ul twa yofs i ng i ngi n or dert opr oduc eahea l t hya nd mor ena t ur a l s oundi ngwa yof s i ng i ng .
I nt ha tr eg a r dI woul ds a yt ha tour ‘ i mi t aon’ i sna t ur a l . I ti st r ul yar eflecon ofus–whowea r e–y es , a l wa y s‘ s ha ped’ byourpa r ent sa ndf a mi l i eswhenwea r e y oung .Wec on nuet ol ea r nl a ng ua g es k i l l s a sweg r owol der . Ma nys i ng er s( a swel l a s nons i ng er s )beg i nt oa c qui r eha bi t s bec a us et he yl i k et oi mi t a t es oundst he y hea r , nowma k i ngc ons c i ousc hoi c esa st o wha tt he ywoul dl i k et os oundl i k e. Huma nde v el opmentr el i esoni mi t aon: t hec a r eg i v ers howst hea con, t hec hi l d wa t c hesa ndulma t el ya empt s . T he c a r eg i v erf ol l owswi t hc el ebr anga nd pos iv el yr ei nf or c i ngt hebeha v i or . Repea t . Repea t . Repea t .T hi st y peof i mi t aona ndi nt er a coni sf unda ment a l f orl ea r ni ng , a ndas t r onga r g umentc a n bema def ori mi t aoni nv oi c et r a i ni ng a ndl ea r ni ng .Coupl edwi t hpr i nc i pl esof mot orl ea r ni ng , v oi c et r a i ni ngt hr oug h g r oupenv i r onment sempha s i z i ng l i s t eni ng , i mi t aon, f eedba c k , a ndpr a cc e c a ns uppor tt hea c qui s iona ndl ong t er m l a sngk nowl edg et oper f or mv oi c es k i l l s i namor ea ut omacwa y . S ot hene x t me y ouhea rt hi s :“ Ba a !Ba da ba g a deeg uhdee! ”t hi nkofi ta saba byt r y i ngt o hel py oul ea r nt os c a t .
How doyouus et hewor d“ nat ur al ”i nyourownpr act i ce? Doyouhavea wor ki ngdef i ni t i ont hatyouus easagui det ohel pot her sunder s t andt hevoi ce? Under s t a ndi nghowt heen r ebody wor k sa sone‘ Body mi nd’ r equi r es t ha twer et hi nkt hewa yweha v e t r a diona l l yt a ug htt hev oi c e.Any mewe‘ s t a bi l i z e’ ( ma ni pul a t e? )a pa r toft hebody( whi c hmea nst o ma nypeopl et oc r ea t eapos ion)one mos tl i k el yendsupus i ngmus c l esi na wa ywhi c hma k est hem i nt er f er ewi t h wha tt he ya r ea c t ua l l ydes i g nedt o do-t her ei snot hi ng‘ na t ur a l ’ a bout hol di ngapos t ur e.
Rel a x ed. WhenI hea rt hewor d “ na t ur a l , ”r el a x edi st hefir s twor d t ha tc omest omi nd. Na t ur a l s oundi ngc a nequa t et o wor dss uc ha se ffor t l es s , ea s y , s moot h. “ Na t ur a l ”i sawor dt ha t hel psmer es e ta ndr e f oc usi fI f eel f r us t r a t edora m ha v i ngdi ffic ul t y wi t hapi ec e.
I fwemea n‘ f r ee’ whenr e f er r i ngt ona t ur a l ’ , howc a ny ourv oi c es oundf r eei fy ourbodyi snot ? Ba bi esne v ers eem t og e thoa r s e… Butha v ey ouobs er v ed–nothowt he yus et hei rv oi c e, but howt he yus et hei ren r ebody ? T her ei sl il et ha ti s“ na t ur a l ”a boutus i ngt hev oi c ef orhi g hl e v el s i ng i ngorper f or ma nc e. O en“ na t ur a l ”bec omess y nony mouswi t h“ ea s y ; ”c onv er s el y , “ wor k ”bec omess y nony mous wi t h“ unna t ur a l . ”T hi si saha ng upbec a us ei nor derf ors i ng i nga ndper f or mi ngt ol ookea s y , s i ng er smus tbei mpec c a bl yt r a i nedwhi l ewor k i ngi na ni nt ens el ye fforul wa y noti nbea r i ng downorpus hi ngt hr oug h, bute ffor ti npr ec i s i on. Wha t e v erwec a ndot oa v oi denc our a g i ng‘ ma ni pul aon’ ( l it hes o pa l a t e, s mi l e, us et hi s mus c l e, don’ tus et ha tone, ‘ wa t c hy ourt ong ue’ , e t c . e t c . )i shel pf ul .I ns t ea d, a nywa yt ha twe c a nc r ea t ec i r c ums t a nc est ha ta l l owt hel ea r nert o‘ do’ a nd‘ e x pl or e’ v er s usc ont r ol l i ngpa r t sof t hebody , wi l l a l l owt hes i ng ert os ens ewha ta‘ na t ur a l ’ –nonc ont r ol l eds ound, ba s edon noni nt er f er enc e— ‘ f eel sl i k e. T hi swi l l e v ent ua l l yhel pt heemo onsa ndmes s a g esofmus i c a ndl y r i c sbepr es entwi t houtha v i ngt oma k ea ne ffor tt oi nt er pr e t . Wet husc a nbet r ul y mov edbymus i ca ndl e tour s el v esbei nt er pr e t edbyi t–a ndt hemes s a g ewi l l bea udi bl ea nd v i s i bl e–s i nc et her ei snoi nt er f er enc ewi t ht heBody mi nd! Mys ophomor ey ea rofc ol l eg e, I s a ngmyfir s toper aa r i a . I twa sunl i k ea nyt y peofs i ng i ngI ’ v e e v erdone. I nr ehea r s a l s , t her ewer eanumberof meswher eI t r i edt os i ngaphr a s ea ndmy whol ebodywoul dt ens eup.I wa st r y i ngt oi mper s ona t ehowapr of es s i ona l oper as i ng er woul ds i ngi t . I t henr emi ndedmy s el ft or el a xa nda l l owmybodyt odoi t sj ob. I s a ngt hephr a s e as ec ond me, a ndi twa sac ompl e t et r a ns f or maon.T her ea r es oma nyt hi ng st ot hi nka bout whens i ng i ng , butourbodyc a na c c ompl i s hs oma nyoft hes et a s k soni t sown. I don' tus et hewor dna t ur a l , r ea l l y . I g ues sI s hya wa yf r om al otofa ffec t aon, orr es t r i con, unl es sI ' m per s oni f y i ngadi ffer entc ha r a c t eri nas ong . L i k ei nmys ong" Cher r yPi e, "I s i ngi na bi tofa1950' ss t y l e, t ohel pj ux t a pos es omeoft heg r i ert hemes , l i k edomescv i ol enc ea nd ma l ef ema l es t er eot y pes . I ha v eal owerv oi c ewhenI ' mt hema nc ha r a c t er :“ L a dywha ddy a wa ntf r om me?I ' v et r i eda sha r da sI c a n. S houl dI beha r dorg ent l e, doy ouwa ntar ea l ma n? ” T hent hef ema l e, hi g herv oi c es i ng s :“ Mr . , y ouj us tbey our s el f , a ndc her i s hhera g a i n. ”I fI ’ m not a dj usngmyv oi c ea sat ec hni quef ormea ni ng , t henI ' ml i k el yt ous emyna t ur a l ( y ourwor ds ) v oi c e, a ndc ha ng ef oremo ona c c or di ng l y . I don' tt hi nka boutt ec hni quewheni tc omest o emo on, t ha t ' smor eofame t hoda cngt hi ng , ofi ma g i ni nga ne x per i enc et ha tc r ea t edt he s ong , oras i mi l a re x per i enc e. I ta l s ohel pst ha tI c ompos e99%ofwha tI s i ng . T r uema s t er yi si nt hes c a l ed, a na l y z ed, r epea t ed, f oc us edpr a cc eofi s ol ang , mov i ng , a nd ma ni pul angt hefines tmo onsofv oi c ec ont r ol . F ori ns t a nc e, l e t ’ sus et het hel ensofE sl l Voi c e T r a i ni ng( T M)t ot a k eal ooka taf ema l es i ng i ngoper a :f oras i ng ert ol ook“ na t ur a l ” , s hemus tha v e j us tt her i g hta mountofa i r , c r eangt hes ubg l o cpr es s ur et os e tt hev oc a l f ol dsi nmo on. T hev oc a l f ol dsmus tc omet og e t her , a erc hoos i ngv oc a l f ol dons e t s , wi t hat hi nt r uev oc a l f ol dbodya ndc ov er . T hen, s hemus tc hoos et heg r a daonofs pec i fic lngs hewa nt sf ori nc r ea s edt hi nnes sa nd s wee t nes sorper ha psac ov er tt hi c k nes s . T obehea r dov era nor c hes t r a , s hemus tna r r owt he epi l a r y ng ea l s pa c ewi t ht hea r y epi g l o cs phi nc t er , a l l t hewhi l ema i nt a i ni ngal owl a r y nxpos t ur e. S he wi l l a nc horhert or s o, hea da ndnec kt os t a bi l i z e, t a k i ngt he“ wor k ”a wa y , a nds hewi l l r e t r a c tt hef a l s e v oc a l f ol dst oens ur ec l a r i t ywhi l er educ i ngc ons t r i cona nds upporngv oc a l hea l t h. Wi t hahi g h t ong uet or educ edownwa r dpr es s ur ea ndmo onont hel a r y nx , s hewi l l a rc ul a t e;per ha ps , s hewi l l l owert hev el um t opr oduc ea na c c ur a t ena s a l i z edF r enc hl y r i c . S hewi l l pr ot r udeorr e t r a c therl i ps a ndmov eherj a wa l l t oma ni pul a t ea ndt a k ea dv a nt a g eofa c ousc s . Wi t ha l l oft ha t , s hewi l l a l s oa c t herr ol e. Andt ha twa sj us tonemea s ur e!I ti st heha r des twor kt oma k es ome t hi ngl ooke ffor t l es s . I n t heend, per ha pst heonl yt hi ng“ na t ur a l ”a bouts i ng i ngc a nbef oundi nt he’ ‘ soft hewr iens c or e.
“FOREVERYWRONGVOI CED WOMAN,THENOMI NAL PROBLEM I SEXCESS.THEVOI CEI S TOO SOMETHI NG — TOO LOUD,NASAL,BREATHY,HONKI NG,SQUEAKY, MATRONLY,WHI SPERED.I TREVEALSTOO MUCH OF SOMEI DENTI TY,I TOVERFLOWSI TSBOUNDS.THE EXCESSI N TURN POI NTSTO WHAT’ SLACKI NG: SOFTNESS,POWER,HUMOR,I NTELLECT,SEXI NESS, SERI OUSNESS,COOLNESS,WARMTH.THEFACTTHAT THESEADJ ECTI VESCOMEI N RELATI VELYI NVERSEPAI RS I SN’ TACOI NCI DENCE.WEHAVESOMEMEASUREOF CONTROLOVERTHEWAYWESOUND,BUTFORWOMEN — AND MI NORI TI ES— THEMARGI N OFERRORCAN BE VANI SHI NGLYTHI N.I T’ SALMOSTI MPOSSI BLETO GET I T“RI GHT. ”–J ORDAN KI SNER
NOTTOO LOUD NOTTOO MUCH FRY
NOT TOO SOFT
NOTTOO MUCH NOTTOO B REATHY
LL RI H S O O NOTT NOTTOO ANNOYI NG
Col l agesby LaurelI rene
GH I H O O T T NO
NOTTOO LOW
“ I wasapr et t ygood i mi t at or of R oyAc u f f , bu t t h enI f ou n dou t t h ey al r eadyh adaR oyAc u f f , s oI s t ar t eds i n gi n ' l i k e my s el f . ” Han kWi l l i ams
by David Harris
For Ingo
C h e c ko u t o u rn e x t e p i s o d ec o m i n gMa r c h2 0 1 7 !
r ea df orf r eea twww. v oi c es c i enc ewor k s . or g/ t heunf i l t er eds our c e
www. voi cesci enceworks. org