Consonants Need Love Too

Lori Lyford, CIF

Consonants Need Love Too

Lori Lyford, CIF

The magic lies not in the

communication of sound,

but rather in the sound of

communication.

The magic lies not in the

communication of sound,

but rather in the sound of

communication.

ConsonantsConsonants

The root of all EVIL and the cause of choppy singing?

ORThe carriers of passion, clarity and

meaning?

The root of all EVIL and the cause of choppy singing?

ORThe carriers of passion, clarity and

meaning?

Our HistoryOur History

Choppy singing MUST be cured!Target the dreaded consonants!!Minimize unvoiced and “stopped”

consonantsSing from vowel to vowelConsonant substitution

Choppy singing MUST be cured!Target the dreaded consonants!!Minimize unvoiced and “stopped”

consonantsSing from vowel to vowelConsonant substitution

Consonant ReplacementConsonant Replacement

Examplesunvoiced voiced

“f” became “v”“k” became “g”“s” became “z”

“If they could see me now”became

“Iv they good zee me now”

Examplesunvoiced voiced

“f” became “v”“k” became “g”“s” became “z”

“If they could see me now”became

“Iv they good zee me now”

Smooth Singing…at what cost?

Smooth Singing…at what cost?

Unit suffers - each part uses different technique

Tenors - sing from vowel to vowelBari/Bass - smooth out everythingLeads - deliver the words…maybe

Clarity suffers - Mushy consonants causes

loss of lyric clarityRing suffers- Minimized consonants produce

vowels that cannot be fully expanded

Unit suffers - each part uses different technique

Tenors - sing from vowel to vowelBari/Bass - smooth out everythingLeads - deliver the words…maybe

Clarity suffers - Mushy consonants causes

loss of lyric clarityRing suffers- Minimized consonants produce

vowels that cannot be fully expanded

The Answer? Air Flow and Articulation!

The Answer? Air Flow and Articulation!

Incorrectly done, these can also be a big part of the problemExaggerated air flow

Breathy tone, unclear lyrics

Over-produced, choppy dictionLip, jaw, tongue tension

Incorrectly done, these can also be a big part of the problemExaggerated air flow

Breathy tone, unclear lyrics

Over-produced, choppy dictionLip, jaw, tongue tension

Artificially Connected Sounds

or…The Nose Knows

Artificially Connected Sounds

or…The Nose Knows

Can’t articulate with your nostrilsLoss of half our power Can’t make true consonants with half

the vocalized air going through your nose

Can’t articulate with your nostrilsLoss of half our power Can’t make true consonants with half

the vocalized air going through your nose

Getting Your Nose OUT of Your Business

Getting Your Nose OUT of Your Business

Find the valveRoot beer burpUse “K” sound Kah, Kay, Key, Koh, KoohConsciously direct sound out your mouthTest the sound

Find the valveRoot beer burpUse “K” sound Kah, Kay, Key, Koh, KoohConsciously direct sound out your mouthTest the sound

The NOSE can be in the Sound

but never put the

Sound in the NOSE

The NOSE can be in the Sound

but never put the

Sound in the NOSE

Air FlowAir Flow

The breath is the ocean, the voice is the boat which floats on the ocean! Nature gave us the voice, we cannot change it, but we can educate the breath and learn to control it. This constitutes the whole method of singing.

“Vocal Wisdom”-Giovanni Lamperti

The breath is the ocean, the voice is the boat which floats on the ocean! Nature gave us the voice, we cannot change it, but we can educate the breath and learn to control it. This constitutes the whole method of singing.

“Vocal Wisdom”-Giovanni Lamperti

Bubbling to Move AirBubbling to Move Air

WhyIncreases AIR Flow/Hook upOpens and relaxes the throatBrings tone to the front of the

mouthEasier to articulateEasier to ring

WhyIncreases AIR Flow/Hook upOpens and relaxes the throatBrings tone to the front of the

mouthEasier to articulateEasier to ring

BubblingBubbling

HowUse both lipsMove bottom lip toward the top lipFirm the corners of your lipsVibrate the center of the lipsUse the wet part of the lipsKeep the air flowing

HowUse both lipsMove bottom lip toward the top lipFirm the corners of your lipsVibrate the center of the lipsUse the wet part of the lipsKeep the air flowing

Singing and SpeakingSinging and Speaking

Speak-Sing technique - Jim CaseySpeak clearly, as if an oratorEmote, be genuineSpeak the line 3 times in a row

With meaning and inflectionNot in the rhythm of the line

Sing on the 4th time, using the same mouth and physical expression as when speaking emphatically

Speak-Sing technique - Jim CaseySpeak clearly, as if an oratorEmote, be genuineSpeak the line 3 times in a row

With meaning and inflectionNot in the rhythm of the line

Sing on the 4th time, using the same mouth and physical expression as when speaking emphatically

Speak-Sing and DynamicsSpeak-Sing and DynamicsSpeak to one personSpeak to ten peopleSpeak to a classroomSpeak to one hundred peopleSpeak to five hundred peopleSpeak to the Regional audienceSpeak to the International audience

Speak to one personSpeak to ten peopleSpeak to a classroomSpeak to one hundred peopleSpeak to five hundred peopleSpeak to the Regional audienceSpeak to the International audience

Clarity AND ConnectionClarity AND Connection

Matched vowelsNatural, speech-like deliveryAppropriate consonants Forward, clear, ringing soundMove AIR and SOUND away

from youJust TALK to me

Matched vowelsNatural, speech-like deliveryAppropriate consonants Forward, clear, ringing soundMove AIR and SOUND away

from youJust TALK to me

All this requires is:practice, practice, practice,

belief in yourself,and courage!!

All this requires is:practice, practice, practice,

belief in yourself,and courage!!