Along with our ability to project our voices comes the all-too-common occurrence: SPITTING! But, add the right amount of salt to any meal, and it brings the flavors to life. The strain and the effort vanishes, and is replaced by ease. We singers generate not only lots of spit, but lots of fast-moving aerosols, those microscopic potentially-virus-carrying particles that hang in the air for a long time, even several hours in some cases. (New Shure mics have since been purchased; Im hoping, for a better recording quality for singing, Singers Mask from the Broadway Relief Project, Resonance Singers Mask from My Music Folders, CHANGE NEGATIVES TO POSITIVES: HOW TO CHANGE YOUR INNER TALK, Voice Care with a Latin Flair Karen Sussmans Workshop for Tu Experiencia Broadway in New York City, Singers Masks You CAN Sing Safely and Effectively. Ill get more into that in a later article onarticulation. The great thing is, once we learn to apply mask placement to our vocal method, we are open to a larger pool of resonance, making our voices NATURALLY louder. Along with our ability to project our voices comes the all-too-common occurrence: SPITTING! That extra tension and effort takes a significant toll on our stamina. Before 2020, whoever thought that singing could be dangerous? Our voices get much more fatigued, much more quickly, when were doing all of that extra work, and are more vulnerable to serious or even permanent damage. That's what mask does for the voice; it can give your vocal tone body, size, and depth. Just to make it a little bit clearer, here are a few samples of some of the above examples I mentioned of an almost entirely masky sound: Now, aVERYimportant point to make: although it may sound like it, singing while accessing mask does NOT equal nasal singing. If the quality changes noticeably with the nose pinch, it means you are singing through your nose. To sing nasally, you actually allow air to escape out of the nose, which is a totally inefficient way of singing (Ill cover why that is in a laterarticle). "Mask" placement (also referred to sometimes as ring or ring tone) is yet another of those forms of resonance we discussed in Understanding Vocal Resonance, Part 1: What is Placement? AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR OUR CLIENTS MASK is where we get the brightness, brassiness, and sheer volume of our voices. We tighten up an assortment of muscle groups and pressurize through that tension in attempt to sing higher and louder. Although mask singing and nasal singing have certain sonic similarities, if you listen to examples of each back-to-back, you can hear clearly that the masky sound is fuller and more powerful than nasal singing. The overtones it creates fill out the voice, allowing it to fill the room or concert hall with tremendous volume and presence, without it taking additional air pressure, muscular tension, or physical exertion to accomplish it. When we made our video demonstrating the effectiveness of singers masks, we had only the Singers Mask from the Broadway Relief Project, and the Resonance Singers Mask from My Music Folders. Check out the TMF Mask; you can surely find others on the market now. Ourbreath connectionbecomes far more effective and applicable when we dont have muscular tension to disrupt it, which gives us infinitely more support. That's what mask does for the voice; it can give your vocal tone body, size, and depth. Ridding ourselves of all of that extra tension allows us to reach higher (and lower) notes in our ranges, because we dont have all of the extra tension inhibiting our flexibility. Its amazingit truly is. Well, maybe if you were too near a window during one of those soprano-singing-glass-shattering high notes moments, but otherwise, it was relatively safe to sing in public, alone or with other singers. The timbre of isolated mask placement is piercing and shrill, like the blaring of a trumpet, sax, or trombone. What is Resonance? It incorporates the NASO-PHARYNX, which is a bony resonance area located behind the nose and the cheekbones, as well as the HARD PALATE, which is the bony cavern just above the roof of your mouth. How do I warm-up and do lip trills or even just breathe deeply without having a conventional paper or cloth mask sucked into my mouth or impinging upon free lip and jaw movement?, Enter the singers masks. Ill get into that in a laterarticleabout thepitfalls of tension and pressure, but suffice to say, when proper and efficient placement takes the place of all that tension and effort, the voice lasts longer and is stronger overall. When we made our video demonstrating the effectiveness of singers masks, we had only the, ; you can surely find others on the market now. Youll not only hear the difference in quality between singing primarily with mask placement and singing through the nose, youll also hear what it sounds like to pinch your nose during each manner of vocalizing. (New Shure mics have since been purchased; Im hoping for a better recording quality for singing)., Remember, performing opportunities will be increasing in the weeks and months to come. There are now several types on the market. Aerosol transmission has been found to be a key factor in the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19., Enter the singers masks. By the way, for those singers and choral directors who are interested in implementing all the mitigating factors to be used for singers to sing together safely, check out this short informative video: video, the singers masks transmit sound very wellso well, in fact, that when I used what I affectionately refer to as my big opera voice, the sound distorted on my Blue Yeti mic. To bring it all home for you, check out the following audio track to hear a demonstration of what a voice without mask sounds like, followed by how that same voice comes to life WITH mask added: The difference in power and quality are undeniable. * NOTE: The nose-pinching test works best when singing VOWELS, ~not consonants~, because we actually create many of our consonant sounds naturally by moving air through the nose. Not only did so many singers and actors lose work, but now singing around others was suddenly considered too risky. (Please note: the TMF mask was supposedly researched as the safest mask in particle containment by Colorado State University aerosol study on singers)., By the way, for those singers and choral directors who are interested in implementing all the mitigating factors to be used for singers to sing together safely, check out this short informative video: https://youtu.be/aesWEkmHYYc )., As you will see in our video, the singers masks transmit sound very wellso well, in fact, that when I used what I affectionately refer to as my big opera voice, the sound distorted on my Blue Yeti mic. Truthfully, folks:tension is a killer. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. For example: we often have the tendency to overwork to sing louder, higher, or more consistently. Theres a simple way to discern whether you are singing with a masky quality, or singing through your nose: sing on an open vowel and pinch your nose. If pinching your nose does NOT change the sound, then youre probably accessing mask without losing any extraneous air through your nose. Our runs and adlibs are fluid and free. Stay relaxed and focused as you take your first steps towards integrating this new dimension into your arsenal, and the benefits will be undeniable and indispensable as you move forward. Stay safe, get vaccinated, make sure there is excellent ventilation with exchange of outside air or air filtration/air handlers/air purifying systems, and wear a singers mask!. Mask exercises are the bane of many a singers existence, because they not only look and sound very strange, but they can also feel very counterintuitive in the beginning. I like to say that mask is a lot like SALT; by itself it's very intense, very powerfully flavored, but very abrasive. Check out the following audio track. But wait, you say, how am I supposed to sing with a mask on? Youreeconomizing your airmore efficiently. Check it out: Now that we understand the differences between mask placement and singing nasally, lets revisit for a moment what we said towards the top of this article about the whole reason mask is important in the first place: Add the right amount of salt to any meal, and it brings the flavors to life. By itself, when not really mixed with any other forms or resonance, mask tends to sound like Axl Rose from Guns N Roses or old Vaudeville singers like Al Jolson when in the lower range -- or Edith Bunker from All in the Family or Frankie Valli from Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons when in the upper range. We are now open for in-person sessions, as well as virtual visits, in a hybrid model. Which also means that it becomes more CONSISTENT; we end up having a far easier time reaching the notes we shoot for with accuracy, holding out during long phrases, etc, over and over again. Mask placement by itself may have a powerfully nasal quality to it, but thats simply because you are accessing resonance chambers behind the nose. You still need toeconomize your airwhile you sing that way, or any other way --- which means NOT allowing excess air to escape out of your nose. Once youve become proficient at accessing your mask and integrating it into your sound, a thousand doorways open up to you as an emotive singer and artist, and many of the fundamental barriers we experience as developing singers begin to blur and fall away. This also opens us up for simple freedom of style and expression. Far less pressure and tension are needed to achieve the volume and power we strive for. We can adjust our volumes dramatically or subtly, crescendoing and diminuendoing as the artistic and expressionistic needs of the performance call for. There are now several types on the market. Have a question about singing technique, voice training, or performance, or an article you'd like to see written?ASK DAN. (Please note: the TMF mask was supposedly researched as the safest mask in particle containment by Colorado State University aerosol study on singers).. *. Suddenly, our pitch and intonation are more consistent. Try taking a tablespoon of salt and shoving it in your mouthit's harsh and severe. The safest way to do this is outdoors, or indoors with excellent ventilation, social distancing of even more than 6 feet, and masks. It cuts through the air like the wails of a cat meowing or a baby crying. The voice is just LOUDER, just MORE PRESENTand we barely have to work to make it that way! Then, the pandemic hit, and the singers world was turned upside-down., Not only did so many singers and actors lose work, but now singing around others was suddenly considered too risky. And it should be! We singers generate not only lots of spit, but lots of fast-moving aerosols, those microscopic potentially-virus-carrying particles that hang, in the air for a long time, even several hours in some cases. But, as we often discuss, the act ofstepping outside of our comfort zonesis one of the most crucial parts of leaping forward and evolving into the singers we strive to become. Aerosol transmission has been found to be a key factor in the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19., So how can we work with our singing teachers, choruses, or rehearse with others, especially if youre not sure if everyone is vaccinated? The overtones it creates fill out the voice, allowing it to fill the room or concert hall with tremendous volume and presence, without it taking additional air pressure, muscular tension, or physical exertion to accomplish it..
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