So I hope I convinced you in my previous blog that, when you speak, you make sounds with your vocal chords (inside your larynx), that you can control these sounds and also make a sound louder or softer. This is the basis of speech and how we add emphasis and interest to what we say. Singing is really only an extended form of speech. Singing, to non-singers, sounds very different to speech and hence beyond their reach. But the void can be bridged. Think about religious chanting. This is halfway between speech and singing. The words of the psalm or religious text are spoken by the priest or cleric using the same sound and often the congregation reply in a chant. So let’s do something similar!
You probably remember the nursery rhyme Mary had a little lamb… So, using your speaking voice, say the first line. That was no problem was it?
Now repeat the line but keep the sound of all the words the same as the first word: Mary . You are chanting the words. Repeat this a few times to satisfy yourself that you are keeping to the same sound. The musical term for a particular sound is pitch. So all the words in the phrase have the same pitch.
Do you remember the second line? It’s fleece as white as snow… As before, speak the words. Notice how the emphasis has changed to the second word fleece. This time chant the phrase using the same pitch of fleece for the rest of the words. It doesn’t matter what pitch you start on. Repeat several times and check you are using the same pitch for all the words.
The pitch of the words in speech, and in singing, go up and down, and you will recall that you are in control! So this time speak both phrases in sequence: Mary had a little lamb, it’s fleece as white as snow. Now chant the two phrases and use your control to change the second phrase to a higher pitch. Mary had a little lamb change pitch up It’s fleece as white as snow. Well done!
Now we will tackle the whole verse using the same chanting approach. Mary had a little lamb (pitch up) It’s fleece as white as snow (pitch up again) And everywhere that (pitch up again) Mary went (pitch down) the lamb was (pitch down) sure to (pitch down) go! With a bit of luck you will arrive back on the same pitch as you started. You have sung one verse of the nursery rhyme!!! Now practice while trying to make the words and the changes in pitch as smooth as you can. You are on your way to singing!
Renaissance not Retirement 