| The longevity of a singer's career depends on | | | | designed to produce an open, clear, |
| having the skill to consistently deliver quality sound | | | | communicative instrument flexible enough to sing |
| without compromised vocal integrity - i.e. sing | | | | any style and play any character without strain - |
| your guts out without hurting yourself. A powerful | | | | even when belting. |
| belt, capably executed with good technique is an | | | | Singing has traditionally been considered a |
| indispensable expressive tool. Yet ever since the | | | | right-brain only activity. Yet as emerging research |
| 'belt' became a necessary skill for singers, the | | | | improves our understanding of the acoustics and |
| debate has raged on - how does one produce a | | | | mechanics of the vocal apparatus, the rules of |
| healthy belt? | | | | theater performance voice and singing blend into |
| First we need to define what is a belt. Easier said | | | | one voice. |
| than done. The debate rages on in professional | | | | Speech is a left-brain activity that is natural, |
| vocal circles. Here's my definition, which has been | | | | comfortable and easy. You talk all day long |
| formed through research, experience and sitting | | | | without a passing thought to technique. You speak |
| through many professional voice organization | | | | on pitch in normal conversation. And you speak in |
| seminars. | | | | rhythm - sometimes smooth and legato, |
| To belt means: clearly spoken lyrics and | | | | sometimes pointed and staccato. |
| unaffected vocal production - a natural, powerful, | | | | Neurologically, speaking on musical pitch requires a |
| communicative sound. In other words, speech on | | | | crossover in the brain in order to speak (left |
| musical pitch, which admittedly may sound like an | | | | brain) on musical pitch (right brain). Yet, it has |
| oxymoron, but voice science supports this | | | | been proven that emotionally inflected speech, i.e., |
| concept. Done poorly, the belt boarders on a | | | | speech with pitch variation, crosses over from |
| harsh shout or yell and often causes vocal | | | | left-brain to the expressive right-brain where |
| damage. Don't do that! | | | | music is processed. It does so without the |
| As an alternative to traditional vocal training, which | | | | physical tension and psychological fear surrounding |
| does not teach belt, I developed a specialized | | | | singing. That is why the foundation of a healthy |
| technique that fills the gap between classical | | | | belt, healthy singing in fact, rests in speaking on |
| training and contemporary vocal needs. The | | | | pitch to combine the ease of speech with the |
| Morganix Method, Sing Like You Speak, is | | | | music of singing. |