Conductors, choristersNancy Singlajulie andrews, cantala women's choir, singing technique, choral singing, toronto choral scene, nancy singla, vibrant singing, vibratoComment

Consonants + Singing: part 3

Conductors, choristersNancy Singlajulie andrews, cantala women's choir, singing technique, choral singing, toronto choral scene, nancy singla, vibrant singing, vibratoComment

In part 1 and 2 of  "Consonants + Singing" we have looked at the differences between voiced and unvoiced consonants, how they can aid in improving our singing, and how the approach in which we sing through them (quickly and on pitch, as appropiate) is crucial to improving sound and pitch accuracy. Now in part 3 we take a closer look at why Julie Andrews' voice is so vibrant and what we can do to apply her awesome techniques to our singing. 

A vibrant face while singing = a bright vibrant singing sound

A vibrant face while singing = a bright vibrant singing sound

I would love to have a choir that combined the many vocal qualities of Julie Andrew's singing. She demonstrates amazing vocal acrobatics, clear diction, pitch accuracy and consistent vocal vibrancy. Let's discuss how she does this. 

1) She has amazing vocal flexibility. (Have you heard her sing “the Lonely Goatherd” lately?? The yodelling, the numerous different Goat-singing imitation sounds, and the perfect accuracy of skipping up and down from the top to bottom ends of her vocal range quickly and with perfect accuracy). She always sings in her head voice, making the transitions from top to bottom and back to the top of her voice effortless.

2) Diction is clear as day. How does she do this? By not modifying any vowels (until her upper register) and skipping quickly through the consonants, phonating voiced consonants to the following pitched vowel which also avoids unwanted scooping, pitch and tuning issues.

3) Vibrato is neither too fast or two slow so its almost imperceptible- for example, the only thing I hear is a colourful vibrant singing sound, not “oh listen to her twittering voice mom!”

4) She sings with energy and spark. She always sounds like she is smiling when she is singing-not spread, or shallow sounding, but smiling-lifted soft palette creating a cathedral like dome where the resonances are able to bounce, sail and careen out into our ears! None of her vowels are dark or manipulated, it all sounds like natural singing sound.

How many times have I yelled "SMILE!!" while we are singing? How we look directly effects the singing sound we make. Dark serious face = dark serious sound, bright vibrant face = bright vibrant sound. Practising in front a mirror is a wonderful reality check, try it sometime and see for yourself how your look when you sing. Maybe next week I will have more gorgeous, alive, smiling faces looking back at me...

 

 

 

Conductors, choristersNancy Singlacantala, cantala choir, nancy singla, Choral music, choral singing, choral sound, vowels, singing technique, womens choir, toronto choral sceneComment

The ABC's of Singing

One time I was asked if vowels were important in singing. I replied “vowels are like green vegetables in our diets: they are essential!”. This may seem obvious, but it’s important to understand the role vowels have in singing and how they are produced.

Conductors, choristersNancy Singlacantala, cantala choir, nancy singla, Choral music, choral singing, choral sound, vowels, singing technique, womens choir, toronto choral sceneComment
choristers, ConductorsNancy Singlasinging technique, consonants, singing buzz, cantala women's choir, nancy singla, voiced consonants, unvoiced consonants, choral singing toronto, women's choirComment

Consonants + Singing: Part 1

There are 21 consonant sounds in the English language, and they are defined as “speech sounds that are articulated with complete or partial closure of the vocal tract”. Now just a minute….Closure of the vocal tract? Let's understand how they are produced then look at how they can improve and/or enhance our singing.

choristers, ConductorsNancy Singlasinging technique, consonants, singing buzz, cantala women's choir, nancy singla, voiced consonants, unvoiced consonants, choral singing toronto, women's choirComment
Conductors, choristersNancy Singlacantala women's choir, nancy singla, julie andrews, consonants, students, singing technique, choral singing, scooping, pitch accuracy, singing quality, toronto choral singing, toronto choral sceneComment

Consonants + Singing series: Part 2

Conductors, choristersNancy Singlacantala women's choir, nancy singla, julie andrews, consonants, students, singing technique, choral singing, scooping, pitch accuracy, singing quality, toronto choral singing, toronto choral sceneComment
choristers, ConductorsNancy Singlachoral singing toronto, choral singing, nancy singla, cantala women's choir, singing, choirs, toronto choral singing, auditioningComment

Can Everyone Sing?

As a singing teacher and choral conductor for many years, I have yet to meet anyone I can not teach to sing. Pleasant voice? not guaranteed. But singing? Yes. You can if you either don’t believe it or have been told so. Trust me. You can sing.

choristers, ConductorsNancy Singlachoral singing toronto, choral singing, nancy singla, cantala women's choir, singing, choirs, toronto choral singing, auditioningComment
choristers, concerts, ConductorsNancy SinglaNancy Singla, zachary moore, always keep this close, colleen carhuff, heart syncrotization, spring concert toronto, choral singing, choral singing toronto, cantala women's choir, toronto choral scene, toronto womens choir, choirs in torontoComment

Singing Heartbeats

I have written many blogs about why we sing in choirs and why we just…well, love it. How about coming to choir for your cardiovascular health? Singing and hearts are deeply connected, more than we ever thought.

choristers, concerts, ConductorsNancy SinglaNancy Singla, zachary moore, always keep this close, colleen carhuff, heart syncrotization, spring concert toronto, choral singing, choral singing toronto, cantala women's choir, toronto choral scene, toronto womens choir, choirs in torontoComment