Brianna Skeen- Smith- Chapters 4-6

 Summary            

-These chapters focus on Smith's first three inventions. The first invention focuses on being able to speak freely and without tension by purifying vowels and speaking in your own vernacular. He adds the concept of "speaking with line" to emphasize connection between words and phrases when we speak. The exercises described are also to focus on getting the singer's vowels into a good placement.Smith refers to these exercises as buiding a good foundation for the "chiaro" aspect of the voice. The second invention focuses on breathing and airflow. With these exercises, Smith has the singer focus more on having a consistent airflow that can help transition between registers. Smith refers to this work as working on the "oscuro" aspect of the voice. The third invention that Smith uses is called "the balancing act" in providing exercises that combine the elements found in "speaking simply" for a bright sound with elements found in "free flowing air" for a dark sound to create a balanced chiaroscuro sound. These excersises focus on how projection, singing with line, and eliminating the sensation of resistance can help free the voice for a clean and balanced sound that is fre of tension.

Application

-I really like the concept of these exercises. I actually used some of them with my students this week. I like the concept of finding a relaxed laryngal space with clean vowels and a healthy projection before adding the sensation of singing. I also liked how the sirens are about airflow and finding an airy space on top as opposed to trying to push to get high. As Smith is always saying, "It's not how high you get, its how you get high." I liked that the airflow excercises were less about range than they were about having consistency with airflow and allowing the air to carry the pitches and not the larynx.