EXERCISES FOR DEVELOPING VOCAL RANGE
I will let you in on a secret which you will observe. Many of the vocal exercises have more than one beneficial effect on the voice. If you are diligent, you will discover that the exercises for upper resonance will also extend the range of your voice, enabling you to comfortably sing at higher pitches than previously. They will also help to eliminate vocal probelms like nasal sounds (as if the person is singing through the nose). The following exercises from Jeanniedeva.com are very effective in expanding the vocal range, but are simultaneously beneficial for enhancing the volume, tone and beauty of the voice. Why is this so? Well, this is because the chief resonator in the head, the nasal cavity, is engaged during these exercises. The nasal cavity is the space located above the roof of the mouth.
Deva recommends that we do these exercises in the order shown since each builds on the other.
DIRECTIONS: Select a song with a range that is a bit challenging. The melody will be sung without lyrics, using the following guidelines:
1. Keep your mouth open slightly with the lips relaxed.
Sing the melody using the vowel “EE” (as in chEEse)
Sing smoothly and slowly
Make sure that the vowel is pronounced correctly throughout the song (should be a bright, not a tight sound).
Sing the song through using the lyrics and assess the voice for any changes
2. Keep your mouth open slightly with the lips relaxed
Sing the same melody slowly and smoothly using the “EE”, but with a bratty sound. You can achieve this bratty sound by scrunching up the nose as if you smelt something bad. Say the word “Eew” with the nose scrunched up.
You will feel some vibration under the nose and in the front portion of the roof of the mouth.
Keep this sound “Eew” consistent throughout the song.
Sing the song through using the lyrics and assess the voice for any changes
3. Keep your mouth open slightly with the lips relaxed
Sing the melody of the song using the vowel “A” as in the words “can” or “apple”.
Keep the sound of the vowel consistent as you sing.
Sing the song through using the lyrics and assess the voice for any changes.
Bye until next time
