Group 1

Day 1:

Introduce yourself in the forum! Remember you can post a video of yourself practicing and singing at any time to get feedback from Julia and your fellow singers! This is a space of growth and discovery and we welcome ALL singers. We are here to encourage you on your musical journey! 

An Explanation...

What is Whistle Voice?

Whistle voice is a distinct register above head voice. It utilizes less closure of the cords, and allows for maximum stretching of the cords, without thickness. There is a distinct aural difference between whistle register and head voice. It is weaker, thinner, and has its own particular set of overtones. A coordinated whistle voice is one where both whistle action and head voice register join to make a fuller tone in extreme top tones. It is important to note that whistle voice is a register, not a series of pitches. This being said, whistle voice can also be practiced lower in the voice than extreme high notes.

Why is it important?

We learn to stretch the cords without antagonism from the TA muscle. Healthy functioning of whistle register indicates cooperation and fine tuning of muscular control vs. release in the intrinsic laryngeal musculature. The coordination of Whistle Register to the Head Voice creates easier, freer, fuller, more beautiful high notes.

Watch video: Whistle Voice Intensive Day 1- part 1

 

N.B. if you are completely new to whistle register, please make sure you DO NOT do your regular warm up before commencing on these exercises!!

 

Daily Exercise:

Watch Video: Whistle Voice Intensive Day 1- part 2

 

Isolating the pure head voice and thin edge function of cords. No grabbing with the tongue. The tongue should remain gently arched upwards, like in an “ng” position. If it is grabbing backwards, you are engaging unnecessary muscles. Larynx should be in a relaxed, downward position. Do not actively support, or try to contract the abdominal muscles. Let them remain relaxed. Also, do not put excess breath pressure or breath in the sound. Minimal airflow is best.

 

1. Light humming
2. Staccato descending on [u]

Day 2:

Watch Video: Whistle Voice Intensive Day 2 Exercise

 

Finding the Edge of the register between head and whistle.

Reminder: No grabbing with the tongue. The tongue should remain gently arched upwards, like in an “ng” position. If it is grabbing backwards, you are engaging unnecessary muscles. Larynx should be in a relaxed, downward position. Do not actively support, or try to contract the abdominal muscles. Let them remain relaxed. Also, do not put excess breath pressure or breath in the sound. Minimal airflow is best.

1. Light Humming
2. Staccato descending on [u]
3. Tiny breaks in passaggio to lighter function on [u]

 

Day 3:

Watch Video: Whistle Voice Intensive Day 3 Exercise

 

Reminder: No grabbing with the tongue. The tongue should remain gently arched upwards, like in an “ng” position. If it is grabbing backwards, you are engaging unnecessary muscles. Larynx should be in a relaxed, downward position. Do not actively support, or try to contract the abdominal muscles. Let them remain relaxed. Also, do not put excess breath pressure or breath in the sound. Minimal airflow is best.

 

1. Light Humming
2. Staccato descending on [u]
3. Tiny breaks in passaggio to lighter function on [u]

4. Start with an inhale on a higher, but not super high pitch. The reason this works is because the glottis must remain slightly open to breath in air, while you are trying to make a pitch. This approximates how the vocal cords function in whistle register when we are using our normal exhale mechanism.

 

Day 4

Watch Video: Whistle Voice Intensive Day 4 Exercise

 

Finding the ways into Whistle….

 

1. Light Humming
2. Staccato descending on [u]
3. Tiny breaks in passaggio to lighter function on [u]

4. Start with an inhale on a higher, but not super high pitch. The reason this works is because the glottis must remain slightly open to breath in air, while you are trying to make a pitch. This approximates how the vocal cords function in whistle register when we are using our normal exhale mechanism.

5. Gentle Fry to Whistle Register. On octaves or 2 octave leaps.

Day 5

Watch Video: Whistle Voice Intensive Day 5 Exercise

 

Finding the ways into Whistle (pt.2) ….

 

1. Light Humming
2. Staccato descending on [u]
3. Tiny breaks in passaggio to lighter function on [u]

4. Start with an inhale on a higher, but not super high pitch. The reason this works is because the glottis must remain slightly open to breath in air, while you are trying to make a pitch. This approximates how the vocal cords function in whistle register when we are using our normal exhale mechanism.

5. Gentle Fry to Whistle Register. On octaves or 2 octave leaps.

6. Little cuperto [u] and absolutely no support or body. Can begin on a top tone, or a 2 octave break upwards.

Day 6

Watch Video:  Whistle Voice Intensive Day 6 Exercise

 

Finding the ways into Whistle (pt.3) ….

1. Light Humming
2. Staccato descending on [u]
3. Tiny breaks in passaggio to lighter function on [u]

4. Start with an inhale on a higher, but not super high pitch. The reason this works is because the glottis must remain slightly open to breath in air, while you are trying to make a pitch. This approximates how the vocal cords function in whistle register when we are using our normal exhale mechanism.

5. Gentle Fry to Whistle Register. On octaves or 2 octave leaps.

6. Little cuperto [u] and absolutely no support or body. Can begin on a top tone, or a 2 octave break upwards.

7. Tongue out and try to sing relaxed on ascending slides, allowing the voice to “break off”

Day 7

Watch Video: Whistle Voice Intensive Day 7 Exercise

 

Finding the ways into Whistle (pt.4) ….

 

1. Light Humming
2. Staccato descending on [u]
3. Tiny breaks in passaggio to lighter function on [u]

4. Start with an inhale on a higher, but not super high pitch. The reason this works is because the glottis must remain slightly open to breath in air, while you are trying to make a pitch. This approximates how the vocal cords function in whistle register when we are using our normal exhale mechanism.

5. Gentle Fry to Whistle Register. On octaves or 2 octave leaps.

6. Little cuperto [u] and absolutely no support or body. Can begin on a top tone, or a 2 octave break upwards.

7. Tongue out and try to sing relaxed on ascending slides, allowing the voice to “break off”

8. Little Mouse Larynx exercise. Feeling a very very slight squeeze on the larynx as if you were a little mouse making a squeak. (please don’t misunderstand this to mean ACTUALLy squeezing your larynx… it is a very slight and gentle sensation).

Day 8

Integration

We are learning new exercises each day, so it is important to give your body some time to integrate. Play around with variations of the exercises and ways “into” the whistle register. Make it fun!! The body responds better if you can play at this. Experiment by imitating sounds or characters you feel represent a whistle register sound. Once you get the sensation, try playing around by staying in the register on different pitches.

Finding the ways into Whistle (pt.4) ….

1. Light Humming
2. Staccato descending on [u]
3. Tiny breaks in passaggio to lighter function on [u]

4. Start with an inhale on a higher, but not super high pitch. The reason this works is because the glottis must remain slightly open to breath in air, while you are trying to make a pitch. This approximates how the vocal cords function in whistle register when we are using our normal exhale mechanism.

5. Gentle Fry to Whistle Register. On octaves or 2 octave leaps.

6. Little cuperto [u] and absolutely no support or body. Can begin on a top tone, or a 2 octave break upwards.

7. Tongue out and try to sing relaxed on ascending slides, allowing the voice to “break off”

8. Little Mouse Larynx exercise. Feeling a very very slight squeeze on the larynx as if you were a little mouse making a squeak. (please don’t misunderstand this to mean ACTUALLy squeezing your larynx… it is a very slight and gentle sensation).

9. PLAY!

Day 9

Watch Video: Whistle Voice Intensive Day 9 Exercise

 

1. Light Humming
2. Staccato descending on [u]
3. Tiny breaks in passaggio to lighter function on [u]

 

4. Start with an inhale on a higher, but not super high pitch. The reason this works is because the glottis must remain slightly open to breath in air, while you are trying to make a pitch. This approximates how the vocal cords function in whistle register when we are using our normal exhale mechanism.

5. Gentle Fry to Whistle Register. On octaves or 2 octave leaps.

6. Little cuperto [u] and absolutely no support or body. Can begin on a top tone, or a 2 octave break upwards.

7. Tongue out and try to sing relaxed on ascending slides, allowing the voice to “break off”

8. Little Mouse Larynx exercise. Feeling a very very slight squeeze on the larynx as if you were a little mouse making a squeak. (please don’t misunderstand this to mean ACTUALLy squeezing your larynx… it is a very slight and gentle sensation).

9. Play!

10: Pitched exercise in whistle register:

    a. 5-4-3-2-1
    b. 1-2-3-2-1

Day 10

Today we begin integrating the whistle function with the full voice!

Watch Video: Whistle Voice Intensive Day 10 Exercises

 

1. Light Humming
2. Staccato descending on [u]
3. Tiny breaks in passaggio to lighter function on [u]

4: Pitched exercise in whistle register:

    a. 5-4-3-2-1
    b. 1-2-3-2-1

 

5. Complete a simple warm up of 10 minutes before commencing with the next exercises!
        a.) [zi-ja-a-zi-ja-a-zi] 5-8-5-3-5-3-1
        b.) supported descending triplets on [vja] 5-6-5 [vja] 4-5-4 [vja]3-4-3 [vja] 2-3-2 [vja]1
        

6. Fully supported oooo arpeggio: za-a-o-o-u-o-o-o-a (1-3-5-8-10-8-5-3-1)

7. Then advance exercise above to holding the top (scale number 10) and gradually opening the oo embouchure. (watch video)!

 

Prepare questions for the tonebase voice LIVESTREAM tomorrow at 11amPST!!

 

Day 11

LIVESTREAM CHECK IN!!!

Bring your questions, your wins, and your struggles! We will trouble shoot and address everything!

11amPST

Link in the LIVESTREAM Forum!!

 

Today we begin integrating the whistle function with the full voice!

Watch Video: Whistle Voice Intensive Day 11 Exercise

 

1. Light Humming
2. Staccato descending on [u]
3. Tiny breaks in passaggio to lighter function on [u]

 

5: Pitched exercise in whistle register:

    a. 5-4-3-2-1
    b. 1-2-3-2-1

5. Complete a simple warm up of 10 minutes before commencing with the next exercises!
        a.) [zi-ja-a-zi-ja-a-zi] 5-8-5-3-5-3-1
        b.) supported descending triplets on [vja] 5-6-5 [vja] 4-5-4 [vja]3-4-3 [vja] 2-3-2 [vja]1

6. Fully supported oooo arpeggio: za-a-o-o-u-o-o-o-a (1-3-5-8-10-8-5-3-1)

7. Then advance exercise above to holding the top (scale number 10) and gradually opening the oo embouchure. (watch video)!

8.  2 + octave arpeggio with embouchure rounded. Begin in very bottom of voice with breathy open chest sound.
Za (1-3-5-8-10-12-15-17-15-12-10-8-5-3-1)

Day 12:

Yesterday was a big day! With a LIVESTREAM and an assignment.

Take the day to practice the skills you have discovered so far and incorporate the tips you heard on the LIVE!

 

Day 13:

Today we incorporate how to integrate the whistle register work into the upper passaggio

Watch Video: Whistle Voice Intensive Day 13 Exercise

 

1. Light Humming
2. Staccato descending on [u]
3. Tiny breaks in passaggio to lighter function on [u]

 

4: Pitched exercise in whistle register:

    a. 5-4-3-2-1
    b. 1-2-3-2-1

5. Complete a simple warm up of 10 minutes before commencing with the next exercises!
        a.) [zi-ja-a-zi-ja-a-zi] 5-8-5-3-5-3-1
        b.) supported descending triplets on [vja] 5-6-5 [vja] 4-5-4 [vja]3-4-3 [vja] 2-3-2 [vja]1

6. Fully supported oooo arpeggio: za-a-o-o-u-o-o-o-a (1-3-5-8-10-8-5-3-1)

7. Then advance exercise above to holding the top (scale number 10) and gradually opening the oo embouchure. (watch video)!

8.  2 + octave arpeggio with embouchure rounded. Begin in very bottom of voice with breathy open chest sound.
Za (1-3-5-8-10-12-15-17-15-12-10-8-5-3-1)

9. 2nd PASSAGIO INTEGRATION: Whistle to pure head. You WILL hear a click or a crack into full voice! Trains less pressed phonation in passaggio. PLEASE WATCH VIDEO DEMO!

Day 14

Today we integrate whistle voice coordination into repertoire

1. Light Humming
2. Staccato descending on [u]
3. Tiny breaks in passaggio to lighter function on [u]

4: Pitched exercise in whistle register:

    a. 5-4-3-2-1
    b. 1-2-3-2-1

5. Complete a simple warm up of 10 minutes before commencing with the next exercises!
        a.) [zi-ja-a-zi-ja-a-zi] 5-8-5-3-5-3-1
        b.) supported descending triplets on [vja] 5-6-5 [vja] 4-5-4 [vja]3-4-3 [vja] 2-3-2 [vja]1

6. Fully supported oooo arpeggio: za-a-o-o-u-o-o-o-a (1-3-5-8-10-8-5-3-1)

7. Then advance exercise above to holding the top (scale number 10) and gradually opening the oo embouchure. (watch video)!

8.  2 + octave arpeggio with embouchure rounded. Begin in very bottom of voice with breathy open chest sound.
Za (1-3-5-8-10-12-15-17-15-12-10-8-5-3-1)

9. 2nd PASSAGIO INTEGRATION: Whistle to pure head. You WILL hear a click or a crack into full voice! Trains less pressed phonation in passaggio. PLEASE WATCH VIDEO DEMO!

10. Pick a phrase of an aria or song that has a high note you would like to coordinate better. First approach it using pure whistle, then coordinated whistle, then (if it is low enough), full voice.  Share your videos in the group!