Refining your articulation and vowel formation with Heidi Vass

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the Two Week Intensive on refining your articulation and vowel formation. In the next two weeks, you will be asked to read, watch, practice and post! One of the best features of the two week intensive is your ability to get actionable feedback! As you are working your way through the course, take advantage of the interactive features of the TWI, by posting videos of yourself and asking questions in the forum. I am happy to respond with written and sometimes even filmed advice that is specific to YOU! There will also be an opportunity to hop on a ZOOM session with me on July 1st at 11am PST. I will be there to answer any questions you may have about the assignments and your vocal music journey, in general.

 

DAY 1: Introduction

Goal: Define and understand the terms, anatomy and process.  

Watch: TWI: Introduction

 

Read: TWI: Refining Your Articulation and Vowel Formation Concepts

 

Day 2: Clarifying Vowel Sounds

Watch: TWI: Clarifying Vowel Sounds

 

 

IPA Italian Vowel Chart:

 

Curwen Hand Signs for Solfege (as mentioned in the video)

Practice:

Work on your formation for the [a] vowel.

Vocalize 1: 5-note pentatonic scale (1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1) on the [a] vowel.

Record yourself singing the vocalize and check your work.

Post your recording to this forum for feedback!

BONUS: practice curwen hand signs for solfege

 

Day 3: The Closed Tongue Position [i] vowel

Watch: TWI: a-i

Practice:

Work on your formation for the [i] vowel.

Vocalize 1: 5-note pentatonic scale (1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1) on the [i] vowel.

Vocalize 2:  Double 5-note pentatonic scale (1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1) on the [i] vowel first, then on the [a] vowel

        note: you can take a breath between vowels or challenge yourself to do the entire thing in one breath.

                  To make the exercise more challenging slow it down.

Vocalize 3: 1-2-3-2-1 with an [a-i] vowel switch on each pitch

        note: concentrate on keeping the vowels pure and distinct from one another.

Record yourself singing the vocalizes and check your work.

Post your recording to this forum for personalized feedback!

 

Day 4: PRACTICE

Take time today to review the shifts between the [a] and the [i] vowel.

Sing the exercises from day 3 and add the following:

Vocalize 4: Sing each vowel on a sustained tone in your middle voice (choose a pitch that is comfortable)

Alternate between the [a] and [i] vowels on your sustained notes.

Record yourself

Listen back and see if you maintained the same vowel.

TIP! as you are singing your sustained tone, rethink the vowel over and over again - mentally restating the vowel as you "hold" "grow", "engage," "develop..." the note.

 

Day 5: The Intermediary Vowel [e]

Watch: TWI: The Intermediary Vowel

 

Practice:

Review vocalizes 1-4

Move the tongue through the [i-e-a], [a-e-i] positions.

Vocalize 5: Sing the descending pentatonic scale (5-4-3-2-1) three times singing through the [i], then [e], then[a] positions. 

note: if you are an advanced singer, you can multi-task with this exercise and add a challenge for the breath by including appoggio work (keep the rib cage out the whole time and only release through the abs for the breaths in between the vowels). We will cover this in the live ZOOM session.

Day 6: Practice

Take time today to review the shifts between the [a], [e] and [i] vowels.

Sing Vocalizes 1-5

Record yourself singing the vocalizes and check your work.

Post your recording to this forum for personalized feedback!

 

Day 7: The Lip Vowels

Watch: TWI: Lip Vowels

 

Practice:

Move the Lips through the [u- o- Ɔ], [Ɔ -o- u] positions.

Vocalize 6: Sing the descending pentatonic scale (5-4-3-2-1) three times singing through the [u], then [o], then [Ɔ] positions. 

Vocalize 7: Octave leaps (1-8-1) [u-Ɔ-u]

Experiment with the closed-open-closed lip and tongue vowel movements

 

Day 8: Practice

Take time today to review the shifts between the tongue [i,e,a] and lip [u- o- Ɔ] vowels.

Sing Vocalizes 1-7

Record yourself singing the vocalizes and check your work.

Post your recording to this forum for personalized feedback!

 

Day 9: Mixing Vowels

Watch: TWI: Mixing Vowels

Practice:

Review vocalizes 1-7

Vocalize 8: sing the following pattern 1-3, 2-4, 3-5, 4-2, 1 on [i-  e-  a- o-  u]

TIP! As with the Basic Vowel Switches, this exercise works best in the middle-range.

 

Day 10: Practice

Find a piece in Italian that you want to work on for the application

Take time today to review the shifts between the tongue [i,e,a] and lip [u- o- Ɔ] vowels.

Sing Vocalizes 1-8

Record yourself singing the vocalizes and check your work.

Post your recording to this forum for personalized feedback!

 

Day 11: ZOOM CHECK IN!!

Hop into the zoom call at 11amPST to go through a live demonstration and group diction workout. Be prepared with any questions you may have!

Topic: TWI: Refining your articulation and vowel formation with Heidi Vass Check-In Time: Jul 1, 2024 11:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89709667959

Meeting ID: 897 0966 7959

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Meeting ID: 897 0966 7959

Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kzbICWNf5

 

Day 12: Application

Watch: TWI: Application

 

P

Practice:

1. Choose a piece of music in Italian.

2. Write in the IPA for the vowels

3. sing vowel-to-vowel on each phrase (omitting the consonants)

 

Day 13: Record and Post

Record a sample of your technical work on your application piece (like "Amarilli" in the application video)

Post it to the forum

Compliment your colleagues on the wonderful work they are doing in this course!!

 

Day 14: Tips for Training

Watch: TWI: Tips for Training

 

In our last day of this challenge, learn how vowels and vowel-consonant combinations can help you define your resonance space and train your intonation.

 

Congratulations on completing this Two Week Intensive. I hope you have enjoyed the process and learned about the formation and importance of pure vowels. As always, if you have any questions or are looking for direct feedback on your work, do not hesitate to post questions or videos and in the practice diary or general questions of the forum. I am always here to help and encourage you on your musical journey. Happy Singing!

- Heidi