ConsonantsAre they the root of all EVIL and choppy

singing? ORThe carriers of passion, clarity and meaning?

Our HistoryChoppy singing MUST be cured!

Target the dreaded consonants!!Minimize unvoiced or “stopped” consonantsSing from vowel to vowelConsonant substitution

Consonant ReplacementExamples

“f” became “v”“k” became “g”“s” became “z”

“If they could see me now”became

“Iv they good zee me now”

Smooth Singing…at what cost?Unit - each part uses different technique

Tenors - sing from vowel to vowelBari/Bass - smooth out everything

Leads - deliver the words…maybe

Clarity - Mushy consonants causes loss of lyric clarity

Ring - Minimized consonants produce vowels that cannot be

fully expanded

The Answer? Air Flow and Articulation!

Incorrectly done, these can also be a big part of the problem• Artificial and exaggerated air flow• Breathy tone, unclear lyrics

• Over-produced, choppy diction• Lip, jaw, tongue tension

Artificially Connected Soundsor…The Nose Knows

Can’t articulate with your nostrilsLoss of half our power Can’t make true consonants with half

the vocalized air going through your nose

Getting Your Nose OUT of Your Business

Find the valveRoot beer burpUse “K” sound Kah, Kay, Key, Koh, KoohConsciously direct sound out your mouthTest the sound

Air FlowThe breath is the ocean, the voice is the

boat which floats on the ocean! Nature gave us the voice, we cannot change it, but we can educate the breath and learn to control it. This constitutes the whole method of singing.

“Vocal Wisdom”-Giovanni Lamperti

Bubbling to Move AirWhy

Increases AIR FlowOpens and relaxes the throatBrings tone to the front of the mouth Easier to articulate Easier to ring

BubblingHow

Use both lipsMove bottom lip toward the top lipFirm the corners of your lipsVibrate the center of the lipsUse the wet part of the lipsKeep the air flowing

Singing and SpeakingSpeak-Sing technique - Jim Casey

Speak clearly, as if an oratorEmote, be genuineSpeak the line 3 times in a row

With meaning and inflection Not in the rhythm of the line

On the 4th time, sing using the same mouth and physical expression as when speaking emphatically

Clarity AND ConnectionMatched vowelsNatural, speech-like deliveryAppropriate consonants Forward, clear, ringing soundMove AIR and SOUND away from you

Just TALK to me

All this requires is:practice, practice, practice,

belief in yourself,and courage!!

Clarity always requires

Courage