Singing Technique
2007/3/4 11:24:45
Without technique, art is out of the question. Everyone can sing, but beautiful singing first requires a body that can sing freely. Note: the body, not merely the throat. In truly technically free singing, the so-called vocal cords and throat can be forgotten entirely. Every person can produce beautiful sound -- the sound is hidden within your body, and is not solely related to the so-called vocal cords and throat. From a purely physical perspective, singing is merely maintaining a tube within the body. Support from below creates a stable air pressure that produces a stable fundamental tone, while the tube's exit, through the positioning of resonating chambers, produces different timbres and amplification effects. The technique of singing ultimately comes down to just two aspects: the support from below, and the adjustment of resonating chambers -- the latter being already connected to the art of singing.
There is a widespread misconception that babies use diaphragmatic breathing and can cry for long periods while maintaining a clear voice, so we should learn this way of producing sound. In fact, these are all idle thoughts. A baby's vocalization method is merely one of many possibilities the body offers. The human body can produce all sorts of sounds, and the appreciation of a particular sound is merely a matter of cultural habit. The key issue is to excavate all the potential possibilities of the body, letting various sounds serve various arts. All flowing sounds require the tube model -- only the positions of support and resonance points differ. Sound energy actually has little to do with physical strength. The key is technical mastery. Don't think that only heavy people can have big voices -- that's an absolutely laughable notion. The ability to freely control sound energy -- that is technique.
The method that provides the greatest sound energy is, of course, to expand the entire body into one tube. The support feels as if it comes from underground, with the entire body serving as one great resonating box, fully relaxed, letting every bone sing. Slightly less than that, you move the support to a position above the pelvic cavity, with both feet fully relaxed forming support for the support. The entire lower mid-to-lower abdomen extending to the lower back fully opens, forming a drawing-in force that freely opens the entire body from the mid-lower abdomen upward to the top of the head in this suction. Note: this cannot be so-called dantian force -- that would make the sound too thin, lacking a particularly powerful and full effect. But singing this way alone easily encounters the so-called register break issue, and the sound loses flexible adjustment, resulting in gaps. From the diaphragm up, everything is actually an excellent resonating box. Good resonance requires the desired resonance position to have a gentle opening forward and downward. This opening constantly adjusts with vocal pitch, seamlessly connecting the sound within the tube, eliminating the so-called register break issue.
If you don't want heavy chest resonance, and prefer a lyrical tone full of metallic luster with force, then just opening the head position is sufficient. If you need a heavy, dramatic sound, then this opening needs to extend deep into the bottom of the chest cavity. Note: not a forceful opening -- even just a certain awareness will do. The sound at this point is not muddy but still retains metallic brilliance -- a powerful, vigorous sound. For example, if you're a dramatic soprano or tenor singing Aida, you need this kind of sound.
So can a high voice also sing middle and low parts? Obviously yes -- you just need to reduce the head-voice color and greatly increase the opening of the chest cavity. A high voice can perfectly complete middle and low register tasks. Note: this sound is smooth and free. Especially in the low range, there must absolutely be no coarse rubbing of the vocal cords -- instead, it should be full of thick resonance, like a sound from deep underground. For other types of sound -- folk songs, pop singing, rock, and so on -- this tube method remains the same. You just don't need the whole body to open up like this; instead, depending on the situation, you place the tube at different positions. But the suction below the tube and the resonance treatment above follow similar principles. For example, you can adjust the tube in the head cavity to nearly nothing, producing a wispy, ethereal sound. Or you can place it in front, controlling the vocal cords to produce a hoarse, crying, piercing sound. Any sound expressing human emotion, any timbre, can be freely produced through this kind of adjustment. Only then have you begun to open the door to the secrets of the human voice.
The above is all written casually based on this ID's personal experience. Many people really don't understand their own bodies very well. Your body is truly a great treasure. The human body is precious and rare, yet many people just waste this marvelous body on bed-moaning, smoking, and drinking. This is probably one of life's greatest tragedies. Since the music upload website won't be repaired until after the 5th, there's no way to continue uploading music this week. Last week's music can also only be uploaded after the site is restored. My apologies.
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2007/3/4 11:29:07
Beijing -- a winter almost without snow -- on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival, has a beautiful spring snow. This ID is going out for a walk. Happy holidays to all.
Heading out first, goodbye.