Add this entry to Your Favorites | [0] Favorites [2] Comments

Please wait...

It is a great pleasure for me to get to write this column every month about proper vocal technique.

Just a few weeks ago, Ed Hill and I went to the National Quartet Convention in Louisville, Kentucky for the Thursday evening Singing News Awards Show and a couple of special meet and greet sessions on Friday evening at the Southern Gospel News Booth. I must say we both enjoyed both days. We were asked by Singing News’ Les Butler to come and be a part of the awards show in a passing the torch presentation. Ed Hill and I sang along with Buddy Burton, and Gerald Williams in a legends quartet who passed the torch to a fine group of young singers.

We both enjoyed it very much. We were also booked on Friday evening for our meet and greet sessions as two singers in The Prophets Quartet. Ed Hill, Mike Allen, Paul Jackson, and myself had a wonderful time meeting many new friends of The Prophets Quartet and greeting many old friends of The Prophets Quartet. Thanks to all of you who came by The Southern Gospel News booth and talked with us. I know that this is not about vocal technique yet, but I was asked over and over, by mostly young tenor singers, about what they needed to do to make their voices last until they are in their late 60's. So, in a way, the quartet convention was a great teaching experience for me. As I continue to write these columns each month, I pray that they are a help to someone. I do not claim to know it all, but I have been able to sing since I was 15 years old in the high tenor range, and I have never had any nodules or major throat problems of any kind. I have been ill with flue a few times, and couldn’t sing perfect during those times. However, when I traveled with the Stamps Quartet during the 1970's I sang every night, even when I had the flue and always did my job. Now that I’m 68 years old, I am thankful that God blessed me to be able to sing as long as I have. He also led me to a very good voice instructor, when I was in my 30's who taught me the things that I am writing about in this column each month.

Now down to the business of proper Breathing Technique. Proper breathing is the main foundation for all quality sound production from the human voice. Inhalation is important as I have explained before, however, exhalation is what makes the actual sound ,as the exhaled air passes over the vocal cords and is resonated in the resonation chambers of the chest, oral cavity, and nasal cavity. Therefore exhalation must be controlled in very exact ways. This of course is done by the diaphragm as we have already discussed before. The diaphragm is a muscle and must be exercised in order to keep it in shape to function as it should in controlling the exhalation of air during the singing process. Once you have begun your exercise regimen, like we have discussed in previous months, then you must begin to consider how much air it actually takes to make each note that you are singing. In Southern Gospel Music we generally attack our notes stronger that many other types of singers do. Therefore, if you are not careful, you run out of air sooner than you would like to. The way to avoid this is to attack your notes, but use less air by using very good support from the diaphragm. Many young singers that I talk to have not really worked on developing their diaphragms.

Therefore, I encourage you to work at that diligently. One of the best exercises for that is to sing 5 tone scales up and down using the letter H in front of each vowel, such as Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha ,Ha, up, then Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha down. Do this exercise a few times, then change the pitch by beginning up ½ step for the next 5 tone set, continue these 5 tone sets and changing keys each time until you reach the highest top note that you can sing. After you have reached your top note then change the vowel sound and do the exercise the same way with the new vowel sound then change the vowel sound again, until you have used all 5 of the vowel sounds. Don’t forget to do these exercises in front of a mirror and be sure to watch your posture, particularly the position of your head while singing. Make sure your head is on straight. By putting the H in front of the vowel sounds you will force your diaphragm to work in the proper manner, and the exercise in that manner will build up the strength of your diaphragm so you can support your tones better. Breath control is the major foundation for all good singing. Then each time you sing try to remember to use your breathing mechanism in the same manner that you do when you are exercising your voice with the Ha sound. I seem like I am harping on the same thing here. However, each principle of singing must be learned individually and mastered before the next one is started on. In order to use this breathing principle, that I have set forth here, you must work on it until it becomes second nature to you, or it becomes so natural that you do it correctly without having to think so much about it.

Quality singing becomes the natural result of a strong quality practice ethic. In other words, you sing a tone that rings and make sure your posture is correct, and then you repeat that experience over and over until it becomes habitual for you. The result will be great quality singing, done in an easy manner, that helps you preserve your ability to sing for many, many years.

I want to encourage you to keep on singing for the Lord. Keep working at your craft, and keep improving. What you do for God should be the very best you have to offer. He gave his best for you when He gave His only begotten son on Calvary to die for your sins and mine. I praise the name of the Lord because He is worthy of all my praise. He has saved my soul and set me free from the bondage of sin. Oh What A Savior my Jesus is. I love Him and I am grateful for His infinite wisdom and blessings. I just had to testify a little. Thanks for reading this column.

Psalm 118:6. “The Lord is on my side” Hallelujah! Remember that little scripture every time you think that things aren’t going right. If you will let God take control of things, He will work them all out for you. God bless each and everyone of you.

Your Brother in Christ,
Bill Baize

Reader Comments

Add Comments

If you are seeing this form you are not a Member or have not logged in. Why not consider becoming a Member?

Membership allows you to have a prepared signature of your choice applied to every comment you make, as well as the ability to choose an avatar to display next to your name to help identify your posts. Members are also given opportunity to vote weekly in our Weekly Chart as well as special Members Only contests, polls and giveaways during the year. If you are already a member, login here, otherwise please register here.

**Note: Forums membership is a seperate membership.

By posting you agree to our Comments Policy

Name:
Email:
Location:
URL:
Comment:
	Remember my personal information
	Notify me of follow-up comments?
Please enter the word you see in the image below: