QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q Does this normal quality apply to everybody? It was my impression that everybody's quality was different?
A It is my belief that everyone must sing basically the normal quality if he wishes to reach the goals or objectives as set up by the literature. Identity of voices differs as individuals differ but the singer's identity must be established in normal quality. It would be impossible for the great artists to reach the artist status unless they were singing in their normal quality.

Q Is it possible to list or describe different qualities?
A At least five resonance qualities can be listed: metallic, nasal, denasal, muffled, and normal. There are at least four vibratory qualities: breathy, harsh, hoarse, and normal. In addition, approximately sixty adjectives describing quality can be listed.40

Q Can another more descriptive name be given to normal quality?
A Normal quality has been described as "nasal" resonance by many teach¬ers. Actually it is not nasal except in the nasal sounds, m, n and ng.

Q What do you mean, it is not a nasal quality?
A It sounds as if it were nasal, and the singer has the feeling that his nose is open. However, x-ray pictures of the head showing the positions of the tongue and hard and soft palate indicate that in the production of good tone, the nasal port is closed, except on the nasals.41

Q What test can be given to prove this point?
A The so called nose test: hold the nostrils of the nose closed and repeat a phrase with no nasals, such as "Tell her the day." If there is no breath passing through the nose then there is an absence of nasality. Now repeat a phrase with nasals in the words: "My time is your time," still holding the nostril closed. The nasals require a puff of breath through the nose, which may be continuous, thereby giving an objectionable quality to the whole phrase.

Q Other than being objectionable in quality, what else can be said against nasality?
A Nasality limits the flexibility of the voice, and in so doing limits the control of agility, loud and soft singing, and range.

Q You have mentioned the use of the term "normal" and also "nasal" resonance as describing the quality that should be sung to get the best results. Can you suggest some other term that might be more descriptive and more easily understood?
A I use the term "bell resonance." The voice with this quality rings like a "bell".

Q What should a teacher know about the causes of good quality?
A The teacher should know that the basis for normal quality is in the larynx. The vibrations of the vocal cords give off more than just puffs of sound. They give off a whole series of overtones, which are amplified or modi¬fied by the resonators. In other words, the resonators the pharynx, the mouth, and the nasal passages must be tuned to the vibrations of the vocal cords until the normal or "bell" quality is established.