| What are pure vowels? Simply stated a pure | | | | In addition to the vowel shift, especially as you |
| vowel is one that is produced in a way that the | | | | ascend the scale or phrase, you want to be |
| voice can maintain cord closure or | | | | aware of the shape of your lips, the conjecture |
| “adduction” during phonation and can | | | | of your head in relation to your spinal position and |
| easily move between resonances from lowest | | | | the position of the jaw and shoulders. |
| note to the highest tone with little difficulty. | | | | Correct Chin Placement You want your shoulders |
| The Ah vowel. When vocalizing this vowel sound | | | | to be as relaxed as possible, not slouched, but |
| you want to create continuous compressions in | | | | relaxed in a natural position of rest. Imagine |
| the vocal cabinet and pharyngeal cavity through | | | | you’re sitting in a chair with a small child in |
| “coloring” the vowel as you ascend | | | | your arms gently pulling your hands into a |
| the scale or vocal phrase higher. Begin at a lower | | | | “cradled” position. This is how your |
| tone in your lowest notes pronouncing the | | | | shoulders should feel during exercise and |
| “Ah” as in “father”. | | | | performance as well. |
| As you ascend the scale or vocal phrase | | | | Your lips should be in a semi-pursed position, in |
| especially when approaching the | | | | other words, slightly open as if you were about |
| “bridges” or Passagio, you want to | | | | to speak the word “what”. Your |
| go from an “Ah” in | | | | head should feel as if it were |
| “Father” to an “Uh” as | | | | “floating” or “feather |
| in “Other”. As you perform the | | | | light” resting gently on top of your spine. |
| vowel in this way, a relaxing of the larynx is | | | | Your spine should be in a non-rigid position in line |
| maintained and the tone sounds transparent as | | | | with your shoulder position and head. Your chin |
| you go higher. If you were to stay with the | | | | should be in a level position in line with your |
| “Ah” as in Father on the way up, | | | | shoulders and the jaw should remain relaxed (see |
| you would experience both tension and vocal cord | | | | illustrations for proper chin placement). |
| disconnect. | | | | |