In this and the following section you’ll learn how to move from one note to a next-door note that is either higher or lower in pitch, and then through a group of next-door notes, using the hum.
See the distance between the two notes on the horizontal line as being made up of lots of smaller distances that you can glide smoothly through one at a time. This line and the idea of gliding are both very helpful in keeping the control of your voice in your head and away from your throat. (Later, with more practice, you will be able to separate the different notes while keeping all the positive qualities of the slide.)
Some possible helpful images are: a skater gliding across the ice, an elastic band being stretched, or holding a piece of chewing gum in your teeth and pulling the end out of your mouth. Find one that works for you.
Always do the exercises really slowly at first, so you keep thinking of moving just a tiny distance at a time. As you get more confident you can speed up.
Repeat the exercise but this time with the second note about a tone lower in pitch (e.g. note 2 to note 1 and back to note 2).
Now repeat the previous exercise but starting on different notes, and using both the mmmm and nnnn hums:
If you managed the previous exercise with no feeling of effort or throat control, then repeat it but gradually speeding up the note changes.
The important thing here is to keep the effortless sliding quality as you move between notes, which becomes more difficult as you switch faster.
In this and the following section you’ll learn how to move from one note to a next-door note that is either higher or lower in pitch, and then through a group of next-door notes, using the hum.
See the distance between the two notes on the horizontal line as being made up of lots of smaller distances that you can glide smoothly through one at a time. This line and the idea of gliding are both very helpful in keeping the control of your voice in your head and away from your throat. (Later, with more practice, you will be able to separate the different notes while keeping all the positive qualities of the slide.)
Some possible helpful images are: a skater gliding across the ice, an elastic band being stretched, or holding a piece of chewing gum in your teeth and pulling the end out of your mouth. Find one that works for you.
Always do the exercises really slowly at first, so you keep thinking of moving just a tiny distance at a time. As you get more confident you can speed up.
Repeat the exercise but this time with the second note about a tone lower in pitch (e.g. note 2 to note 1 and back to note 2).
Now repeat the previous exercise but starting on different notes, and using both the mmmm and nnnn hums:
If you managed the previous exercise with no feeling of effort or throat control, then repeat it but gradually speeding up the note changes.
The important thing here is to keep the effortless sliding quality as you move between notes, which becomes more difficult as you switch faster.
