Vocal Qualities

Vibrato and Straight Tone

• Vibrato – a slight, variation in pitch when singing to produce a stronger or richer tone.

• Straight-tone – lack of vibrato when singing. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBbBM52ZcmI

Vibrato and Straight Tone Examples:

• Porgy and Bess – Summertime: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7-Qa92Rzbk

• Kat Edmonson – Summertime https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M2Z23BPOtw

Dark versus Bright Tone

• Dark tone – often more mature voices; deeper/heavier sound; usually visualized further back in the mouth

• Bright tone – often heard in pop and rock music; resonates in the front part of the facial mask (nose and upper lip region)

Dark versus Bright Tone Examples:

• Bright female - Lucia Popp as Despina in Cosi fan tutte; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJV7vSNoB24

• Dark female – Cecilia Bartoli in Barber of Seville; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDyXqf0at_w

• Bright male – Juan Diego Florez; Barber of Seville; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIfz8fNQw0U

• Dark male – Williard White as Porgy in Porgy and Bess; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apiq3VN2Ra8

Clear and Raspy Tone

• Clear Tone – breath supports sound; normal healthy tone• Raspy – gravely, crackly, sometimes indicates unhealthy

vocal folds; Certain breath control and use can produce a raspy tone

Clear and Raspy Tone Examples:

• Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong – Dream A Little Dream of Me; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6TmogXhOZ8

Intune and Out of Tune singing

• If singer is In Tune that means he/she are singing in the correct key with the correct relative pitches

• If a singer is Out of Tune is means the pitches they are singing are not in the key that the piece is in

In tune and Out of tune Singing Examples:

• Bad American Idol Auditions - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPiGT293sWw

• In Tune Singing – teacher example

Immature and Mature Sound

• Immature – singers who are younger and do not have as mature vocal folds; younger voices tend to have a higher range, are breathy, and nasally

• Mature – Mature voices tend to use breath more effectively, have a ‘richer’ tone, and usually (especially males) have a deeper range.

Mature and Immature Examples:

• Immature - Alicia Morton as Annie; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_dBep_55mI

• Mature – Mamma Who Bore Me – Spring Awakening; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5bwdxuP0Gw

Clear versus Unclear Diction

• Diction – is the clarify of a singer’s text; Can you understand what they are saying?

• Unclear diction has flat vowels, lack of consonants, and a closed sound

Clear Diction and Unclear Diction Examples:

• Unclear Diction- Ariana Grande – Problem; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQpCuYS41Oo

• Clear Diction – Barenaked Ladies – One Week; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snZcn3Qt1xI

Nasal and Throat Tone

• Nasal tone occurs when sound resonates in the nose and front facial region as well as closed vowels

• Throat tone occurs when sound resonates further back of the mouth closer to the throat; It usually has a buzzy sound

Nasal and Throat Tone Examples:

• Kristin Chenowith- Wicked- Popular; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsKH2tqoFJ8

• Nina Simone – Feelin’ Good; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5Y11hwjMNs

Healthy and Unhealthy Singing

• Healthy singing occurs when the sound is supported by breath and diaphragm, the vocal folds are vibrating and functioning normally, and there is no tension in the throat.

• Unhealthy singing can occur when there is misuse of the vocal folds. This can happen with screaming, yelling, singing far too high unsupported, or too low unsupported. Think of when you get a cold and you lose your voice or sound hoarse..

Healthy and Unhealthy Singing Examples:

• Unhealthy- Let the Bodies Hit the Floor - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8-sMJZTYf0

• Unhealthy – All I Want For Christmas – Mariah Carey; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w_nK7nnngo