Lecture on Singing through the Passaggio

Introduction

Instructor has been out due to rehearsals, teaching, and sickness.
Focus: How to sing in the passaggio (the bridge area of the vocal range between registers).
Common issue among students.

Voice Illusion: Singers create the illusion of one unified voice from bottom to top.
Shifting Gears: Similar to driving a manual car; singers constantly shift gears between registers smoothly.

Lenal Tilt: Necessary for smooth transition through passaggio.
- Larynx tilts to cover the sound.
- Without this, high range feels closed off and strained.
Open Throat Position (Yawn Position): Essential for singing in the passaggio.
- Larynx lowers, palate raises, and tongue remains forward.
- Same as 'head voice'.
Coordination of Chest and Head Voice: Essential to create a seamless sound.
- Chest voice: Natural speaking register.
- Head voice: Open throat position, flexible, smooth.

Belting and Chest Voice: Unhealthy belting can lead to fatigue and plateau.
False Darkening: Avoid making vowels dark; maintain bright vowels even in yawn position.

Gradual Transition: Shift from chest voice to head voice by percentage.
- From low A to middle C: Chest voice dominant, head voice absent.
- Middle C to D flat: 90% chest, 10% head voice.
- F to G: More head voice needed.
Small and Gathered Mouth Position: Allows for proper open throat.
- Avoid wide mouth; gather mouth to open the back throat.

Cap Exercise: Small cap between teeth to maintain gathered mouth position.
- Forces yawn position and lenal tilt.
- Example: Sing octave without changing mouth position.

High Range Technique: More head voice, less chest voice.
- From A natural to B flat: 80% head, 20% chest voice.
- Thin the sound, less weighty, more flexible.
Avoiding Compression: Larynx should float, not be compressed.
- Allow larynx enough space to move freely.

Recommendations for practicing the passaggio technique.
Importance of understanding laryngeal movement, chest and head voice coordination.
Encouragement to experiment with exercises and find personalized approaches.
Invitation to like, subscribe, and follow for more vocal tips.

Unified voice is an illusion created by smooth gear shifts between vocal registers.
Laryngeal tilt and yawn position are essential for smooth transitions in the passaggio.
Gradual transition from chest to head voice is key to overcoming the passaggio.
Practical exercises help reinforce these techniques.
High range requires less chest voice and more head voice, with attention to not compress the larynx.