"WRITING FREE VERSE IS LIKE PLAYING TENNIS WITH THE NET DOWN."

TENNIS.jpg

Robert Frost

Similarly, the new philosophy of contemporary singing has led us to believe that we can do without the net and simply whack the sound into the front of the face with effort. It seems freedom has become doing whatever works - pragmatism. However, REAL freedom is knowing there is a barrier of which we must become aware. There IS a net!

The sound is higher than we can place it. Placing the voice in the mask is putting it where we can manipulate it with the larynx, tongue, and facial muscles. The throat is BEHIND all those muscles and we must be taught NOT to consciously hold the sound in place. The POSITION of the voice is out the BACK of the skull and DOWN in the diaphragm. In the darkness is the light--chiaroscuro.These two, when coordinated, allow the sound to go over the net and fly freely out to the audience. This is called PROJECTION - no interference from the front of the face. No placement. Position instead.

HOLDING ON IS NOT FREE

Tom Schilling, June 5, 2020

Tom SchillingVOCALWAY STUDIOS