Vocal Music (1950)

[Music] [Music] [Music] the beauty of music and deepen and enrich our life the singers in a choral group share many values as they match in tune their voices into the blended harmony of creative music [Music] Walter had been discovering these values since he first tried out the chorus at the beginning of the term he'd never sang with a group before bob has been singing for several years really knows there is still much to learn the chorus gives him a chance to say often under supervision Edith needed friends joining the chorus helped refine them and Laurel sings for the sheer joy of music and soul [Music] the long hours of practice with mr. Clark have both their rewards to every member of the group they are trained singers now giving a performance as much a pleasure to see as to hearing everyone likes to sing there's everyone likes to sing those who join the chorus found that they had opened the door to the whole world of music with all its pleasures and responsibilities they learned that there are basic principles of voice production every singer should know they began to understand that the voice is truly a marvelous instrument they learned how it starts in the larynx or voice box where the sound is produced by vibration of the vocal folds some were surprised to find that the air can the lungs the same air we use in breathing causes this vibration they learned that breathing is controlled mainly with the diaphragm muscle and with the muscles attached to the ribs they found that the original tone is enriched by resonance affected in the sinuses nasal passages mouth throat and Ted they compared the vocal instrument with an orchestral instrument like the larynx the reed vibrates to produce tones and as in singing breath causes the vibration [Music] the read without the body of the instrument lacks resonance so they found that resonance gives the zone its quality the same rate on an instrument with a different resonating structure produces a different tone so mr. Clark pointed out that one element tremendously important in singing is lacking in the music of orchestral instruments this is the use of language which adds the great dimension of poetry to our music as he worked with each member of his group mr. Clark constantly spreads the basic elements of singing one of the most important is good posture sometimes it comes naturally but Walter had to learn it Walter your tongue sounds tight I'd like to show you this mannequin here notice that the dot form a straight line now if you were to back up against a straight wall as I'm bending this mannequin up against this straight board you'd notice that the back of your head your back back of your side and your legs would all touch that posture will hurt your tone won't look well when you sing before an audience you must remember that a singer is a performer as well as a vocal instrument now at stand tall not tempt as let your hands rest at your sides and balance on the balls of your feet Lauro had trouble learning to relax while singing [Music] Laura your tongue sounds thin and tight that's because you're holding your job tense now on you're saying you want to relax let your jaw drop down alright Bob hadn't learned how to control his breathing and his tone was preppy [Music] control of breathing depends on good posture and on relaxation the important thing that bond is to be able to release breath with full control singers learn to do this by keeping the chest expanded they control breathing with the diaphragm and the muscles attached to the lower rib Bob used to make the mistake of raising his shoulder but that doesn't increase breath capacity one bit he worked hard to correct his breathy tone Bob your tone is breathy you're pushing the breast past the vocal folds much too fast you must learn to be more economical with it you'll probably feel a lift in your diaphragm or in the area of your diaphragm when you sing your here's what your tone sounds like oh you're pushing to get it now this is the way it oughta sound oh let's try it biggest main problem was resonance [Music] [Music] my mind he does your voice sound thin because it's not resonated properly it sounds nasal like this there is a lady sweet and kind don't you can keep open up here and use all your resonators it'll sound more like this there is already sweet one card would you like to try it again yes I would and of course they all work on good diction crisp countenance clear pure vowels and projection of tone wait a minute in the word life there's a dip song just now you sang fly when it should have been lie we worked on that yesterday remember make the e that nzi short all right let's try it [Music] [Music] day in and day out they work with mr. Clark on the elements of singing posture and breathing relaxation resonance and clarity addiction the climax of the year's work is their spring concert when they share with others their joy in singing yet the concert is only a beginning for they are weaving the wondrous rutted music into the very fabric of their lives [Music] [Music] [Applause]