Vocal Onsets
What is the term used for the way we begin a vocal sound or phrase?
Vocal onset
What does the term 'dynamics' refer to in music?
Volume
What is the correct posture for singing?
- Back straight
- Shoulders back
- Feet shoulder-width apart
Name at least three types of vocal onsets.
- Breathy or Airy
- Glottal or Hard
- Vocal fry (creaking door)
- Balanced
Define the difference between 'piano' and 'forte' in a musical context.
Piano is soft or quiet and forte is loud.
What main muscle do we use to improve our breath control?
The diaphragm
Balanced onset
Where and how in Skyfall do we change our use of dynamics?
At the end of the first verse, leading into the chorus, we crescendo on the last note.
What is the importance of stretching before singing?
To warm up our bodies, get energized and to release tension from our muscles.
Describe a breathy OR glottal onset and make the sound we use as an example.
Breathy: A lot of air is released through the vocal cords, causing them to vibrate away from each other. Creates a light and airy sound. Makes a huh sound at the beginning of a phrase.
Glottal: A burst of air is forced through the vocal cords, causing them to be pushed apart. Creates a hard and loud sound. Makes an uh sound, like the beginning of the word apple or 'ana' in Arabic.How can dynamics affect the overall experience of listening to a piece of music?
Dynamics help to create emotional expression and impact in a piece of music.
- Talk to the person beside us
- Laugh or giggle
- Have hands in pockets
- Have arms crossed
- Have poor posture
Explain the importance of an appropriate onset choice in singing and how it affects the listener.
Appropriate onset choice allows singers to convey different meanings and emotions with the tone of their voice. It also helps create a varied sound palette for the listener.
Define the terms crescendo and decrescendo.
Crescendo: gradually getting louder.
Decrescendo: gradually getting softer.
Discuss how posture affects breath support and vocal performance.
- Posture ensures we present ourselves properly to an audience.
- Posture ensures we sing clearly and with correct intonation.
- Posture allows us to breathe more effectively because our diaphragm is in correct position.