By now you should be able to:
To speak in an interesting way you will want to be using a range of notes, so in this unit you will learn how to move from one note to another while retaining this way of producing your voice. Again we will be helping the process by working with the hum initially.
We tend to think of notes as though they are arranged vertically, the highest in pitch at the top and the lowest in pitch at the bottom.
Without worrying about technique, watch yourself in the mirror while singing a note followed by another much higher in pitch (such as the opening of the song Somewhere Over the Rainbow) and see what you do with your head. Do you tilt your chin towards the ceiling and look upward as though physically reaching for the higher note?
If instead you sing a note followed by a much lower-pitched one (such as the opening of the hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful) do you tilt your chin down to the ground and look downward?
The feeling of verticality is encouraged by the way notes are described as being ‘high’ or ‘low’, and ‘above’ or ‘below’ each other. Unfortunately, this is the accepted terminology and is very difficult to avoid.
But there’s no logical reason for it other than genuine musical pitch. The voice is a musical instrument (whether you’re using it for singing or speaking), and luckily for musicians – especially pianists – musical instruments do not rely on having high-pitched notes vertically above lower-pitched ones.
So the vital thing to remember as you work through the exercises on changing pitch is:
You’ll learn here how to put this concept into practice when you use your voice.
By now you should be able to:
To speak in an interesting way you will want to be using a range of notes, so in this unit you will learn how to move from one note to another while retaining this way of producing your voice. Again we will be helping the process by working with the hum initially.
We tend to think of notes as though they are arranged vertically, the highest in pitch at the top and the lowest in pitch at the bottom.
Without worrying about technique, watch yourself in the mirror while singing a note followed by another much higher in pitch (such as the opening of the song Somewhere Over the Rainbow) and see what you do with your head. Do you tilt your chin towards the ceiling and look upward as though physically reaching for the higher note?
If instead you sing a note followed by a much lower-pitched one (such as the opening of the hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful) do you tilt your chin down to the ground and look downward?
The feeling of verticality is encouraged by the way notes are described as being ‘high’ or ‘low’, and ‘above’ or ‘below’ each other. Unfortunately, this is the accepted terminology and is very difficult to avoid.
But there’s no logical reason for it other than genuine musical pitch. The voice is a musical instrument (whether you’re using it for singing or speaking), and luckily for musicians – especially pianists – musical instruments do not rely on having high-pitched notes vertically above lower-pitched ones.
So the vital thing to remember as you work through the exercises on changing pitch is:
You’ll learn here how to put this concept into practice when you use your voice.
