Expert: Pamela Thomas - 7/30/2008

Question
Hi Pamela,
I your response in a previous post in which you suggest that covering is the key to training male voices. I've been training with a coach for about a year and a couple of months and i started off covering..to get that "operatic sound," anyway, he said that covering is bad for the voice because the voice stays towards the back of mouth..rather than out. Anyway, can you further elaborate on why covering the male voice is beneficial?
theo

Answer
Hi Theo,

The reason you should cover is to change the resonance of the voice.  Without demonstrating I usually find it easiest to explain by saying you should darken the vowel - but this does not mean putting the sound in the back of the throat.  If you darken the sound but show the teeth - then you get the resonance without making the sound "woofy".

This is something that is difficult to put into words - you really need to have it demonstrated.  But I'm surprised your teacher would say that covering is bad for the voice.  Maybe he has a different name for it - but if you listen to Pavarotti (or watch his performances) you will see that he changes the sound when he goes higher - he "covers".  All of the great tenors do this - why don't you look at some opera or concerts DVDs and maybe you will see what I'm talking about.

Here are some YouTube samples you should listen to:

Franco Corelli - hear how he covers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bvj6ML1xvM&feature=related

Mario del Monaco - he also covers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrJC7l5Pn-k&feature=related

Giuseppe di Stefano - he did not cover the voice as much as other tenors - and you can hear it in this recording...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvyWpLZalE8

Now let me say - covering does not mean darkening the voice - it's a subtle change of resonance - perhaps you will hear the differences in the recordings.  To me, di Stefano's "ahs" are uncovered and not as beautiful as the same vowels from Corelli and del Monaco.

I would certainly continue exploring the idea of covering the voice... some teachers don't teach it - but my teacher, Tom LoMonaco, was a great tenor himself and he teaches a lot of men - and they all cover.  Perhaps you can find a teacher who can demonstrate what that means.

Hope this helps.

Best,

Pamela