Transcript Readings in the history of music performance

POINT 1
To get your class as a whole to sing better in
tune, sing songs in child-friendly keys –
not too high, not too low.
Conrad of Zabern, De modo bene cantandi (1474)
To choose a medium range for each song is
reasonable, because in a large choir it usually
happens that it is difficult for all to sing the very
high or very low notes, and therefore one must do
without some of the voices. It is therefore
important that the leader should give the starting
note in the proper range, so that a melody may lie
in a range about eight or nine steps above or below
it.
Translated by Carol MacClintock (Readings in the history of music
performance, 1979)
POINT 2
To help individuals match
pitch, use the vowel [u:].
Felicity Laurence, “Children‘s Singing“
Some years ago, I received the most dramatic
confirmation of this effect when working with a
group of deaf children: I sang a tone in a high and
very focused head voice, emphasizing a forward and
rounded lip formation, in order for them to sing any
tone and thus form together a cluster chord. Nearly
all of the children sang exactly my note back to
me—somehow, the vibrations had penetrated, and
somehow, they could also immediately find the
'right' tone with their minds and voices.
From The Cambridge Companion to Singing, ed. John Potter.
Exercises for individual children
•Owl Calls: Mama Owl sings a short melody on [u:] and
Little Owl echoes the pattern.
•Echo Questions: The teacher sings a question (e.g. "What
color are your socks?") using the tones G and E. The child
sings the answer.
•Remember that children are allowed as many shy days as
they want or need. Don‘t force children to sing alone.
POINT 3
Take care of your own voice.
lWarm up your voice at the start of the day.
lBreathe well and deeply.
lSpeak in your correct range.
lUse good clear diction.
lSlow down.
lDrink 1 ½ to 2 liters of water during the day.
lIf you have a cold, don‘t whisper to save your voice.
Thank you.
Rebecca Reese
Homburgerstr. 51
CH-4052 Basel
Switzerland
Tel. +41-61-312 38 15
[email protected]
[email protected]