Vocal Performance Tips and Techniques

Unit 3 Vocal Performance

Proper Breathing Lungs should not do most of the work The diaphragm is the muscle that keep the air flowing o Separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity When contracted the diaphragm moves down When relaxed the diaphragm it moves up Stomach should push out when breathing in o Diaphragm is pulling down, ribcage widening from bottom Stomach should suck in when breathing out o Stomach muscles are contracting Avoid thoracic breathing technique

Air Flow Once the lungs fill, the air is push upward through the trachea Air then passes to the larynx and the vocal folds o Vocal folds are relaxed and open in silence o Vocal folds tighten and come together in speech o The air flow through the folds causes them to vibrate rapidly Air then goes through the trachea into the head and mouth o Bones and sinuses in the head serve as resonators o Parts of the mouth serve as articulators

Posture When standing: Feet apart Weight slightly on balls of feet Knees slightly flexed Hips straight, Back straight Chest and Shoulders should not rise When seated: Sit toward edge of chair Feet flat Back straight

Volume Loudness or Softness of one s voice Contributes to energy and enthusiasm Can be controlled by muscles and microphone o A soft voice that is boosted will still be weak and lifeless Projection is the process of pushing sound out of your mouth o Push with your stomach muscles to speak to the back of the room Variety between loud and soft helps the speaker to talk to the audience rather than at the audience

Pitch Highness and lowness of your voice Use your full pitch range with emphasis on lower end of voice o Don t use an announcer s voice Go about up from your lowest pitch

Rate Number of words per minute you deliver during a period of time Typical rate is 160-180 wpm The faster you go, the more mistakes you make

Tone Quality of the sound made Also known as timbre (tam-ber) Affected most by the surrounding of the vibrators o Resonators Relax enough to allow the sound to resonate Humming o Bridge of nose o Fingers on either side of nose under eyes o Say ah o Move tongue to block

Articulation Shaping sounds into recognizable words Lips, teeth, tongue, jaw, hard palate, soft palate Be clear, not overly precise Most common issue is lazy mouth Let s take the local bus to that market o Tongue position o Relaxed jaw o Unclenched teeth Exercise the articulators Drink water

Pronunciation The way words are spoken by uttering the proper sound and stressing the proper syllable Pronunciation = accent Enunciation = clarity Determine the accepted form, make sure you get it right Standard American English is the standard Mispronunciations cause alienations and loss of credibility Use pronunciation guides, use practice A = uh the = thu Foreign names, places, lakes, are killers Phonetic spelling

Substandard Pronunciation Omission leave out part of word o Dropping off g Additions adding sound to word o Warshington Substitution replacing with wrong sound o Mudder, budder Distortion slightly altering correct sound o Fergit, jist Slurring running words together o Whatcha doin

Common Vocal Problems Filler: Unnecessary words used while thinking of message o um, uh, ya know Monotone: lack of variance in pitch o Boring and uninteresting Sing-song: repeated pattern of pitch Whiny: too high, nasal pitch, elongated vowels Choppy: repeated pattern of pause

Common Vocal Problems Nasality: air is blocked from resonators by tongue or soft palate o Relax Jaw Thin Voice: lacks resonance and is weak o Diaphragmatic breathing Breathy Voice: lack of vibration, overly airy o Let air out slower Husky Voice: harsh and unpleasant, caused by misuse of voice o Use higher pitch

Common Vocal Problems Sibilance fricative sounds (s, z, f,) are overemphasized Popping: plosive sounds (p, b, t, d, k) are overemphasized

Voice Maintenance Avoid screaming Adequate moisture o Avoid coffee, dairy, alcohol, caffeine You are using a microphone Save your voice

Conversational Style Difficult to achieve because: No other people in booth No immediate feedback from listener Not using your words

Conversational Style Must practice by: Recording yourself (aircheck) Be critical when you listen Read it out loud as you rehearse

Conversational Style Be flexible in your projection Assume the audience is 18 inches away (distance) Address your immediate family (number) There are four people 2 feet in front of you

Inflection Ranges from low to high pitch Gives life to the copy Start by exaggerating, then adjust

Emphasis Provides importance to words Can use inflection, loudness, pause, etc. Don t over use o Limit to 1 or 2 key words per sentence

Emphasis Provides importance to words Can use inflection, loudness, pause, etc. Don t over use o Limit to 1 or 2 key words per sentence

Volume & Rate Provide volume/rate variety in order to speak to the listener and not at the listener

Pause Break up copy, create interest, give audience a chance to absorb Avoid choppy delivery Allow for breath, and avoid fading at the end of sentences by planning your breath

Phrasing Group words that form ideas and deliver them smoothly together Vary length of pause between each phrase, avoid patterns

Flow Don t over enunciate, pause after each work, or drop your pitch at each pause Avoid stumbles and restarts by being familiar with the copy and maintaining concentration

Mood May need to change mood within same read Serious, happy, elation, humor, etc

Energy Must sound alive Avoid holding back Consider audience, message, and circumstances when determining energy of read Don t overdo it, resulting in unprofessional, inauthentic sound May need to use your body language to create

Jargon, Slang, Cliches Jargon: specialized language or words of a specific profession or interest group Slang: informal, common language used by a specific social group Cliches: overused, old, worn-out expressions that usually started as slang

Redundant Expressions Uses more words than necessary to convey idea Abundant wealth, true fact, visible to the eye, free gift, armed gunman, green in color, unexpected surprise, filled to capacity

Malapropism Misuse of a word by giving it a mixed up meaning, incorrect word that sounds like correct one Pineapple of politeness pinnacle Optical conclusions illusions Civil serpent servant

Solecism Word or phrase that is not grammatically acceptable Ain t, you and I, they was

Spoonerism Transposing syllables bloopers Tip of the slung slip of the tongue Tasted two worms wasted two terms

Political Correctness Being sensitive to using language that may offend Gender, Race, Ethnicity, Age, Nationality

Amateur Delivery Don t hesitate when voicing a difficult word Avoid filler Avoid throw away vocal fry Concentrate while reading Avoid slurring or mumbling Avoid improper rate, misplace emphasis, and dead delivery Develop audience rapport (relationship) Be knowledgeable Be flexible