Here is a post I wrote for the Institute for Vocal Advancement’s blog:
Today I’ll be discussing how vowels work to smooth out the bridges of the voice.
My first 8 years of vocal training was with a teacher who specialized in the “Caesari Method.” While I don’t agree with everything Caesari has ever written, there is much wisdom in his writings. One of the “mantras” I heard over and over again in those first years of my vocal training is that “the vowel is the soul of the voice.” This is an interesting concept. In any style of music, singers desire to be understood. But in addition to having the lyrics be intelligible, the idea of singing with pure vowels means that the sound itself will be produced in a more efficient manner. When I say “pure” vowels I simply mean that they are produced in an “unassisted” manner. If we try to help the vowel making process we can too easily sacrifice the integrity of our tone.
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