WELCOME TO STAGE 1
Stage 1 lays out the foundation and in fact is the cornerstone towards great singing.
POSTURE:
Keep your torso straight and your neck straight. Don’t get your spine tipped in any directly. Not forward, backward, left or right. Stand up straight.
SUPPORT:
As you first lean about proper support (some people feel they already know what this is but in reality they don’t or if they do, they are not using it correctly)
Start here. Make sure you fully understand support and are using it correctly as laid out in the Stage 1 DVD.
THE AH VOWEL:
THIS IS CRITICAL!!!! DO NOT MOVE ON PAST THIS UNTIL YOU UNDERDTAND THIS. I CAN’T EMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH.
Some of the most seasoned singers who have studied the voice for years still do not understand the importance of this simple vowel. Some may say “oh please, you’re not going to show me how to sing an ah vowel are you? I’ve been singing that all my life.” Funny thing is, they have been singing it WRONG all their lives and old habits are hard to break.
The Ah Vowel is the introduction to open throat singing. Look closely at the picture and demonstration I do on the DVD and model it exactly. The back of the throat must be as open as you can possibly make it. The tongue MUST be dropped to the base of the jaw (especially in the back of the throat) and must not constrict the back of the throat in any way. Stand in front of a mirror. Look at the back of your throat. Is your tongue completely dropped and as flat as it can be? ALSO: Is the Soft Pallet (the little dangly thing in the back of your throat) does it rise up and out of site as you start to ascend a scale? When you get good at this it should disappear up in the head.
TENSION:
Constantly monitor yourself (especially in the mirror when possible) to make certain you are shaking off the tension in the chest neck and throat. Also, hold your thumb underneath your chin to make sure your voice box area does not come down. It must stay relaxed and flat.
CONNECTING CHEST WITH HEAD:
This must be done VERY lightly at first so that there is NO break in the voice between chest and head. First remember the previously mentioned steps: POSTURE – SUPPORT – THE AH VOWEL OPEN THROAT – & TENSION when connecting chest with head.
Once you feel you understand these 5 fundamental elements, it is time to move on to Stage 2.
If you practice like I recommend, one hour per day 5-6 days per week, you should be able to move to Stage 2 in about 3 weeks. Everyone is different so don’t worry if it takes longer. Some people need as long as 2-3 months. Everyone is different.
GOOD SINGING TO YOU!
-Ken Tamplin
