Making Music Using The Voice

Making Music Using The VoiceJames Taylor, BM Berklee College of Music 2011

BackgroundEducationAlexis I. DuPont High School 2005Berklee College of Music 2011 (Voice Principal, Music Business/Professional Music Dual Major)ProfessionalAtlantic RecordsVizier/Obylisk Consulting & Management ArtisticSinging since age 5Songwriting and Producing since Middle SchoolStudying Piano and Guitar since high school

Beginning ConsiderationsWhat is Music?How Does Sound Work?What do you hope to achieve with music?

What Is Music?Romantic Era DefinitionMusic is what feelings sound like. Victor Hugo, Poet & Novelist Academic DefinitionRational organization of sounds and silences in time. Prof. Crag Wright, Yale UniversityWorking DefinitionThe art, craft, and science of manipulating tone, rhythm, timbre, dynamics, texture, and form within the framework of time usually for the purpose of effecting communication. Dr. Allen Winold, Indiana University

The Mechanics of Sound

The Tonal (Pitch) ElementThe Science: Tone is a synonym for pitch, which is our perception of the physical phenomenon of frequency: the number of times a sound wave cycles every second (measured in Hertz [Hz])Although theoretically there are an infinite number of frequencies the human ear can only hear those that fall within a given range (12Hz/20Hz up to 20kHz)When a frequency is halved or doubled it creates the same pitch lower or higherThe Art: Tone is the vertical component of MelodyDespite the huge number of frequencies there are only twelve (12) tones or notes in Western Music so note names are repeated high and lowThe distance between two notes is called an interval, which is referred to by its qualitative (Perfect, Diminished, Major, or Minor) and numerical (unison, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and Octave) designation Specific orderings of intervals result in specific arrangements of pitches called scales which give melodies their specific color Whenever a scale or a pitch repeats it is said to be in a new register

Vocal Applications: PitchThe tonal implications of music impact the Vocalist in the following ways:The ability to distinguish, both by scale and pitch designation, which notes are being using greatly increase the ability to sing complex passages. Remember: You cant sing what you cant hear.Knowing which tones a singer can produce with an adequate amount of control and tone production allows classification of his absolute range (all the notes he can sing), tessitura (the notes he can sing comfortably and reliably in most conditions), and vocal classification (by operatic classical music standards), all of which are useful in selecting repertoire

Basic Vocal Ranges

Famous Singers Vocal Ranges

Vocal Tone Creation & Breathing A singer initiates tone by causing the vocal folds to vibrate at a some given frequency by the breathIn order to reduce strain on the vocal folds and aid in using resonance it is important to use diaphragmatic breathing to ensure that a steady flow of air activates the vocal foldsAnother concern is making sure that vocal plosives (harsh attack and grinding of the mucus membrane is avoiding by using smooth vocal onsets

Respiratory MaintenanceDO NOT SMOKE!!!!Attend to your nasal health so as to maintain an unobstructed flow of air through the instrumentEmploy the use of nasal rinses, air purification, and humidification to reduce inflammatoryEngage in exercises such as swimming and sprinting if necessary to expand or maintain lung capacityRegularly practice breathing exercises to develop breath control

Laryngeal MaintenanceDO NOT SMOKE!!!! This can singe the delicate muscles in the voice boxSpeak off of the voice box so as not to grind the mucus chamber and bottom of the vocal foldsWhen singing make sure that the larynx and neck are relaxedStay properly hydrated and maintain a low acid diet that does not provoke acid reflux as the vocal cords are delicate and be burned by such high pH chemicals in the bodyDress for the weather to avoid colds, mucus creation, post-nasal dripping, and excessive throat clearingUse proper technique when singing, especially high notes

The Temporal (Time) ElementThe Science: This element of music deals with harnessing the recurring pulse (beat) in music by:Establishing and altering its speed (Tempo);Organizing it into groups of two, three, or more (Meter); Dividing individual ones into compelling groupings of long and short (Rhythm); orEstablishing a particular one or two beat rhythm as the standard rhythm (Rhythmic Feel) The Art: This element give notes context (without it Mary Had A Little Lamb and Three Blind Mice are identical) and is the heartbeat of music giving it life; it is the horizontal component of melody.

Vocal Applications: TimeThe Vocalist uses rhythm in the following ways:To correctly memorize and sing the melodyOrganize breathing and phrasingTo simplify fiorituraTo create variation in the melody and in any improvisationTo create emphasis on certain words

Textural ElementThe Science: The textural element refers to relationships between the other elements of music and includes:Tone & Time (Melody)Two Different Tones at the same Time (Harmonic Intervals)Three or More Tones at the Same Time (Chords)The Changing of Chords in Time (Chord Progression/Harmonic Rhythm) The Art: The textural element deals with making the music more interesting

The Dynamic ElementThe Science: Dynamics refer to the changes in the:Loudness or softness of sounds (Amplitude);The manner in which specific notes or phrases are played (Articulation) The Art: This element is used to highlight important emotional and formal points in the piece

Vocal Application: Dynamic ElementThe Vocalist uses this element to adjust the perceived importance of specific notes, phrases, and/or sectionsThe Vocalist also uses this element to create variation in the melody with articulation

Vocal ResonanceResonance is the physical process by which a given system, being driven by another vibrating system, forces certain frequencies of the driving vibration to vibrate with greater amplitudeVocal resonance is achieved by placing the pitch in one of the heads four resonance areas:Pharynx: Throat, for low notes which is inconvenient due to the risk of causing the mucus membrane to grindSoft Palate: Back of the Throat, for medium low to medium high notes Hard Palate: Directly Behind the Incisors for medium high to decently high notesSinus Cavity: For high notes Falsetto Resonance: The Bridge of the Nose, for falsetto tonesIt is important to learn how to shape the mouth for optimal resonance and to decide which notes should be placed where and whenOther concerns in this area of vocal technique include vowel modification and the location of Impasto

Resonance Chamber MaintenanceDO NOT SMOKE!!!!Drink plenty of water as this keeps the hard palate, soft palate, and pharynx shiny, which in turn aids in refraction of the sound Take whatever precautions necessary to maintain a clear sinus cavity

Formal ElementThe Science: This element deals with structural principals on the Micro Level: Motives, Phrases, and Cadences; Themes; Repetition, Variation, and Contrast Macro Level: Prescribed Structures (Periods, Double Periods, and Transitions) and Schematic Designs (Strophic, Binary, Ternary, Rondo, Theme & Variations , Sonata, etc.)The Art: The element of form deals with syntactical and grammatical concerns of composing e.g a note is equal to a letter; a motive a syllable; a figure a word; a phrase a phrase; a period, double period, or phrase group a sentence; a section a paragraph; a movement a chapter; and a composition a book

Vocal Applications: Formal The Formal Element of music impacts the Vocalist in the these ways:It makes songs easier to memorize by breaking it into its constituent piecesThe formal element provides boundaries in which the singer uses other elements to effectively convey the musics messagePrincipals such as repetition and variation help him to improvise interesting lines

The Timbral Element The Science: Timbre (pronounced Tamber) refers to the color or individual sound of a frequency as dictated by its overtone profile and its producing instruments constructionThe baseline frequency (pitch) is referred to as the fundamental is heard the loudest; an overtone is a division of that fundamental frequency that rings at the same time as the fundamental (these may come in the form of harmonics, which are whole number multiples of the fundamental frequency, or partials, which are non-whole number multiples of the fundamental), and the dominant frequency is the overtone that is most heardThe materials used in the construction of the instrument as well as its shape dictate which overtones are accentuated and which ones are deadened The Art: Timbre creates the distinct sound of various instruments and voices and forms the basis of the art of orchestrationThe basic families of instruments are the strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussionKnowing these families and their constituent instruments allow you or your producer to choose an instrumental ensemble that properly clothes your voice

Vocal Tone ColorsBass*: Melvin Blue Williams , Barry White Baritone: David Ruffin, Teddy Pendergrass, Luther Vandross, Bryn TerflTenor*: Michael Jackson (Leggiero), Gary Oliver (Spinto), Usher (Lyric), Counter-Tenor*: Eddie Kendricks, Phillip Bailey, Russell Tompkins, Emanuel JohnsonContralto*: Cher (Lyric), Annie Lennox (Coloratura), Mezzo-Soprano*: Sylenna Johnson (Dramatic), Barbara Streisand (Lyric), Beyonce Knowles (Coloratura)Soprano*: Mariah Carey, Patti LaBelle (Dramatic), Whitney Houston (Spinto), Celine Dion (Full Lyric), Minnie Riperton (Light Lyric), Cheryl Lynn (Dramatic Coloratura), Mariah Carey(Lyric Coloratura), * The German Fach splits this vocal designation into more specific parts that describe the voice type in more detail according to its range, timbre, weight, tessitura, resonance, and transition points (e.g. spinto, lyric etc.), thus, this list is not exhaustive

Vocal Ranges in Comparison

Vocal Applications: TimbreTimbral considerations for the Vocalist include Sonority of the voice in different part of a songs rangeRepertoire that fits the range color and capabilities of the voice Blend in Harmony Singing and Vocal Arranging Contexts

What Do You Hope To Achieve With Music?What do you hope to communicatewhen you play or sing?when you write?What is your motivation for making music other than communication?