Two of the Most Challenging Concepts of Vocal Technique Are Registration and Vowel Modification
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ABSTRACT Title of Dissertation: TEACHING REGISTRATION IN THE MIXED CHORAL REHEARSAL: PHYSIOLOGICAL AND ACOUSTICAL CONSIDERATIONS Nicole Aldrich, Doctor of Musical Arts, 2011 Dissertation directed by: Prof. Edward Maclary School of Music One of the most challenging concepts of vocal technique is registration. In classical Western singing, noticeable changes of timbre over the course of a singer‟s vocal range are considered undesirable, and much effort is spent in learning how to eliminate these “breaks.” Faults in vocal registration can cause unevenness of tone quality, lack of resonance, and instability of intonation. The choral conductor must learn how to address these problems in rehearsal in order to establish good choral sound. Much literature exists which defines the physiological and acoustical adjustments required to create a well-blended, “one-register” voice; however, this literature is aimed at the individual singer or teacher of solo voice. Voice-training resources for choral conductors may mention registration and vowel modification but typically do not explain in any detail the science underlying the concepts. The choral conductor thus must adapt the body of solo voice research for application to a group voice teaching setting. The primary goal of this paper is to propose and describe techniques for teaching registration and vowel modification concepts to choral singers. The paper details the physiological factors at work in vocal registration, including the functions of the intrinsic laryngeal musculature. It also surveys the science of acoustics as it applies to the singing voice, including a discussion of vowel formants and the purposes and methods of formant tuning for male and female voices. This section will draw heavily on existing research in solo singing. The next portion of the paper tailors this knowledge to the needs of the choral vocal teacher. The author describes signs of registration difficulties within an ensemble and their possible causes. Next the author provides a series of vocalises and other tools designed to help the conductor achieve two goals in rehearsal: first, to help both men and women develop the physiological adjustments necessary to reduce obvious registration shifts; and second, to assist singers of all voice types in discovering the vowel modifications which will produce a uniform tone quality throughout the range. Finally, the author explains how the conductor can identify potential registration problems during score study and preparation. TEACHING REGISTRATION IN THE MIXED CHORAL REHEARSAL: PHYSIOLOGICAL AND ACOUSTICAL CONSIDERATIONS by Nicole Aldrich Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Maryland, College Park, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts 2011 Advisory Committee: Professor Edward Maclary, Chair Professor Janet Montgomery Professor Martha Randall Professor James Ross Professor Froma Roth © Copyright by Nicole Aldrich 2011 Acknowledgements A great number of people have inspired, influenced, and supported the creation of this document. I am especially grateful to my advisor, Dr. Edward Maclary, for the countless opportunities, endless musical and intellectual challenges, and unwavering support he has offered me over the last four years. The example he sets as a scholar, performer, and teacher is an inspiration to me. Professor Martha Randall is a spirited champion of beautiful singing, healthy technique, and excellent pedagogy, and her advice and suggestions for this paper were invaluable. I will always be grateful to Dr. Melanie DeMent of the University of Delaware, who gave me my voice back and first sparked my interest in voice science. Along my way I have been fortunate to learn from many more fine musicians whose example and teaching have shaped my musical journey. I am especially grateful to Professor James Ross, Dr. Robert Harris, Dr. David Clayton, Professor Lee Jordan- Anders, Debbie Moyers Proctor, Shirley Lohnes, and my friends and colleagues in the conducting program at the University of Maryland for their inspiration and teaching. I would also thank the members of the ensembles at the University of Maryland and the University of Delaware who have been my collaborators over the years, and all of my voice students, for the trust they have placed in me and for the music I have been privileged to share with them. The support of family and friends has been instrumental in making this dissertation and this degree possible. I am especially grateful to my husband, Greg, for his love and encouragement and for always being willing to run out for more frozen pizza, bread, and milk. ii Table of Contents Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. ii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................... iii List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... v List of Figures .................................................................................................................... vi Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1 I. The Larynx ..................................................................................................................... 5 Cartilages .................................................................................................................. 5 The vocal folds .......................................................................................................... 7 Musculature............................................................................................................... 9 II. Registration .................................................................................................................. 14 Terminology ............................................................................................................ 15 Function of the laryngeal musculature in frequency change .................................. 18 Thyroarytenoid and cricothyroid muscle activity in vocal registers ....................... 21 Register shifts.......................................................................................................... 23 The “one-register” voice ......................................................................................... 29 III. Acoustics of the Singing Voice................................................................................... 32 Sound ...................................................................................................................... 32 Resonance ............................................................................................................... 33 Subglottal (tracheal) resonance ............................................................................... 34 Resonance in the vocal tract ................................................................................... 35 Vowel formants ....................................................................................................... 37 The source-filter theory........................................................................................... 40 IV. Vowel Modification .................................................................................................... 45 Basic principles ....................................................................................................... 45 Vowel modification by shading .............................................................................. 46 Vowel modification by substitution ........................................................................ 53 Problems with vowel substitution ........................................................................... 58 Vowel modification for unified timbre ................................................................... 62 V. Choral Voice Teaching ................................................................................................ 64 Assessing the ensemble........................................................................................... 64 Diagnosing problems in registration and acoustical tuning .................................... 65 VI. Vocalises ..................................................................................................................... 69 General notes about the exercises ........................................................................... 69 Vocalises to teach adjustment of the laryngeal muscles ......................................... 73 iii Vocalises to teach vowel modification for improved resonance ............................ 88 Vocalises to teach vowel modification for resonance balancing ............................ 95 VII. The Conductor‟s Score Preparation ........................................................................ 100 Challenges of laryngeal adjustment ...................................................................... 100 Challenges of vowel modification ........................................................................ 104 Simultaneous challenges ....................................................................................... 107 Conclusions ....................................................................................................................