Download vocal production

A GREAT TENOR
VOCAL PRODUCTION
 Resonance
o Created by the singer’s fee and open vocal space on each breath
o 3 dimensional sound to achieve RING:
1. Height/Tallness – Enables tone to spin upwards, unencumbered and continuous.
Improves pitch.
2. Focus – Creates the infamous ‘Tenor Ping’ (High frequency overtones produced
by brilliance and projection within a relaxed and open vocal mechanism)
3. Width/Breadth – Adds fullness and blend
 Air
o More air is required the higher we sing
o Breathing is the management of air, not simply sheer lung capacity
o Breathe to consume air, not to conserve air!
 Vocal Energy
o Use vocal energy (using air) without muscling the tone.
o We don’t need to sing LOUD to sing with energized sound!
 Coning
o Knows the difference between singing Soprano and singing barbershop Tenor. (Tenor
requires lighter vocal adjustment and much less vibrato.)
MUSIC
 Know the Lead line almost as well as your own part, enabling you to anticipate your part
relationship to the Lead within the cone.
 Think your Tenor part IS the melody!
 Understand your relationship with ‘DOH’ at all times; i.e. what intervals you are on in relation to
the Key Note and/or the chord
 Identify where you are on octaves with other parts in the music so you can tune them accurately
 Sing high on the (major) thirds and (flat) sevenths
 Sing stronger and with more Lead-like quality:
o Whenever your notes fall below the Lead line (i.e. those annoying X’s!)
o When singing in dissonant harmony
 Work on your middle range and break also to accomplish the above.
THE PERFORMER
 Use natural body movement and physical energy to express yourself and your music
 Know your notes, interpretation and visual so well that all you need to do is
SING FROM YOUR HEART AND SOUL!
THE STUDENT
 Always be open to change and learning (be coach-able, explore new ways of thinking and doing,
always be in growth mode.)
 Be prepared to not always sound “pretty” to your own ears
OTHER
 Be nice to Baritones because they can help the Tenors sound good!
 Make sure you are singing correctly and/or singing the right part!
 If it is uncomfortable, or you have problems, get a PVI!
 The technique of singing your part should enable your voice to artistically create the barbershop
sound. It does not change the essence of your voice.
Region 16 Fall Music School
09/27/08
Sue Melvin