Vowel pronunciation and modification

Posted in Category Technique and Style
All Discussion
  • L
    Liza lebeda 4 years ago

    Hi teachers-is there a tutorial on here for vowel modification or correct shapes for the mouth, tongue and throat so as to get the best tone for sung vowels throughout different ranges? I sometimes hear to modify the vowel but I don't know exactly what that means. I find sometimes my 'ee' sounds squeezed or my 'Ah' falls flat and I can't figure out why. 
  • M
    Mitch 4 years ago

    Hey there! Our YouTube channel has a lot of great tips and tricks. Camille did a Vowel Modification video, in fact. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pYq36TPd84
  • C
    Camille van Niekerk 4 years ago

    Hi, Liza! We'll be shooting a full tutorial on vowels once we can get back in the studio, but in the meantime, please see the following:

    Hour-long lesson on vowels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSp5yKVakmo&t=2050s

    Narrow vowel modification (the video Mitch shared above): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pYq36TPd84&t=108s

    Resonance (hour-long): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii8f5IIYHLU&t=2140s
  • L
    Liza lebeda 4 years ago

    Thanks guys! Will dig into this ASAP! I feel like vowel placement will be one of the keys that can unlock a better vocal tone for me 🙌🏾
  • C
    Camille van Niekerk 4 years ago

    100%. Best of luck, Liza! If you get stuck or confused, you can almost never going wrong modifying tricky vowels towards a neutral UH or OO (as in BOOK) shape. 
  • L
    Liza lebeda 4 years ago

    That was such a simple and effective explanation of vowel modification. I wish someone had clued me in on that earlier!! Thank youuuuu 🙏
  • C
    Camille van Niekerk 4 years ago

    You're so welcome! Happy to help 😃 
  • L
    Liza lebeda 4 years ago

    I am watching the video on resonance and notice when you do the Mona Lisa smile that the eyebrows raise. Do the raised eyebrows help? I find I can do the Mona Lisa smile without the raised brows. Also does the actual shape of the nose create a different tone? 
  • C
    Camille van Niekerk 4 years ago

    Try it both ways and see if it impacts your tone! For me, lifting brows does make a difference. It's subtle, but it creates a little lift inside. If your tone is sounding dull or heavy, lifting the brows (and cheeks, just a little) can help to gently lift the palate and energize the sound. If you want that "lazy", "tired" sound (a la Billie Eilish at times), then keeping the face heavier and less engaged would help with that. 

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