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July August 2008 InCider Press Page 5 |
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‘Being carefree leads to improved singing’ was the theme of Ron Black, Harmony University instructor for the class of “Care of the Senior Voice.” This theme is what I expressed last Thursday night when opening our chapter meeting. Being carefree is an attitude of young persons. The class responded to Ron’s challenge by having a smile in our eyes with our heads up and bodies, neck and throat being relaxed. He challenged us to have brilliance in our voices. We were asked sing neither dark nor bright but with brilliance and depth. He asked us to use our head cavity above our air source (lungs) to produce resonant sounds in our head and have a youthful vocal production. He worked with us to develop breath support so our vowels and sounds remained consistent from one to another. This helped us from going ‘flat. Thirty of us in the class sang a unison note. We produced an overtone! Hearing the overtone was exciting. If you had been there, you would say that we were not sounding like 50-, 60- and 70-year olds. This is what Ron told us. We were singing with vigor, clarity, resonance, a wider range and brilliance. Singing like this came because it came from the effect of a changed attitude. Next we sang scales, ‘peal offs’ and five-chords. ‘Peal offs’ are what Don had us doing last Thursday of going part way up and down on a scale and then singing the entire scale. Ron Black reminded that we need not go down as far as we think to sing a ½ step lower, and we need to go higher than we think when singing a ½ step higher. The sound was marvelous when we accomplished the appropriate interval move.. We became melodic singers singing -- every part and every person sang to the tonal center in our chords. We could hear the ringing of chords throughout the singing of “My Wild Irish Rose.” ‘Wow’ to carefree singing! ♪ |
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Improved singing by being carefree? By Harvey Kiser |
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Hi guys, It is that time of the year again. I love summer. The church performances was just the beginning, that was awesome, I love singing for God and all, then there is Harmony University to look forward too. This year at Harmony University was outstanding. We had 8 from our chapter there. Don, Harvey, Brian, Brian A., Tom, Travis, Mr. Awesome, and myself. LNE, the pride of our chapter went to Quartet College for some intensive coaching. The rest took in the learning experience, which this year was outstanding. The dedication of the staff, all gifted, was again the most wonderful part of the experience, as well in meeting with old friends from last year and meeting new one’s, too, was wonderful. The best learning part for me was the quartet factory with Royce Ferguson. What a blessing to be in his class. I had sung with two quartets and with his intensive coaching the vocal part was a heart lifting experience for me. I had so much fun, as was the other class as well. I finished the day with Tag singing class with Dr David Wright. What an awesome man, gifted as well. What a great ending of a day, and of course the ice cream, all you can eat. Wow, and the singing, all 12 hours of it, and I can go on and on. The show on Saturday was great and the afterglow which our LNE started. It just gets better every year. I look forward to next year. It is such a humble feeling being around such talent. What a blessing to be part of the barbershop experience, and always, it will be a part of my life! ♪ |
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WOW!, What a summer By Fred Wachsmuth |
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It sure looks like the men from The Little Apple Chorus were having a great time at Harmony University. |