Lifting the soft palate up

Hello Everyone,

After checking out this Ep. 60 "The Soft Palate - The Return of The Ring" - Voice Lessons To The World video, I am starting to get very confused about the soft palate. Justin Stoney listed out a lot of positives about lowering the soft palate and negatives on raising the soft palate. One of them confused me a lot, at around 8:21, Justin Stoney said that a slide drop to the soft palate helps with high notes. Is this true? And also, is there any positives to lifting the soft palate up? 

Thanks,

Aaron

Hi, Aaron! There are many different schools of thought on every aspect of singing! Lowering the palate typically gives us a little more "edge" or "nasality", and that's helpful for many singers in finding and developing their mix. So for high mix, I'd agree! In general, I'm still of the belief that lifting the palate (doesn't have to be crazy high, but gently lifted) helps most singers with their intonation and tone quality. But as you hinted, there are degrees: it's not as simple as lifted or lowered (even if we describe it that way to beginners). As with other aspects of your instrument, you can lift your soft palate in degrees. Keep your soft palate in mind as you're singing, and find the height that works best for your voice with that specific range and style!

Hello Camille,

I understand what you said in all the lines except what you said about "intonation and tone quality" in line 4. How does it help with intonation and tone quality? Thanks!

It increases the amount of resonant space in your mouth, which generally does a better job (than your throat) of "boosting" higher frequencies - resulting in better intonation (if you're falling flat) and a more "open" sound (due to the increased resonant space). At the end of the day, it has to work for you! If it works, use it. If it doesn't, try something else!