AboutPamela Thomas Expertise Questions on Opera performance, repertoire, vocal technique, acting for opera. I have some 20 years experience in opera in both leading roles and chorus. I have sung with New York City Opera since 1981. I have studied voice in NYC for over 20 years and have also taught technique and coached singers in acting.
Question Hi-
I was recently looking at some diagrams from a book written by Lilli Lehman on How to Sing. And, many years ago I basically learned to draw it up higher when I was told to pretend like I had a hole on the roof of my mouth andto pull it up and blow it out the top of my head (like a whale's spout) and project it forward.
I found that i needed that, almost visual for me, to achieve that. I am interested in other techniques like this one to see if there are other places that I can find within myself that I haven't found before. Any suggestions, books, etc.
Thanks so much
Heather
Answer Hi Heather,
I am a very strong believer in having singers study with a qualified, good voice teacher. It is very hard to teach yourself because you cannot hear what you are doing (because your instrument is inside your body). I hope you are studying. If not, can you find a good teacher? It's hard for me to describe a vocal technique - to your point, each singer is different and the visual images and language we use is unique for each student.
See, I can't tell exactly what you do with your voice if you are blowing it out of the top of your head. I would have to hear you and see what you were doing.
I will say that there are many techniques (or many ways to get to the right sound) - one I use is to think of pronouncing your consonents and vowels in the front but maintain an open throat all the while. It's hard for you to really understand what I mean - but it's something that I could show you.
So, please try to find a good teacher and he/she will really be able to help you. If you live near a good music school - I would inquire there for a voice teacher. Or you could take a vocal pedagogy class - that's where you would find discussions of vocal techniques.
Here is a website that lists some of the books on pedagogy: http://www.vocalist.org/vocalist_books.html - Cornelius Reid is one of the most well known. It's great to read these books - but you really must find a teacher!
