GARDNER'S HINTS
FOR GROUP SINGING
All music must dance!!! All music must dance!!! All music must dance!!!
1. Proper posture is essential to good vocal production.
a. Don't stand too rigid. (This will cause tension)
b. Stand tall and stately with your arms, shoulders and neck area relaxed.
c. Don't slouch, it restricts the lungs and diaphragm.
2. Tension is the great enemy to all singers;
a. The jowls and the jaws must always be relaxed.
b. When singing in the higher registers always tip your forehead slightly forward.
(flirt with someone in the audience)
c. When women sing notes above the staff, turn all vowels to Aaah and use less volume.
VOCAL PRODUCTION
3. The higher you sing the darker the vowel. (Lips further from teeth)
4. The louder you sing the darker the vowel. (Lips further from teeth)
5. The lower you sing the brighter the vowel. (Lips closer to teeth)
6. The softer you sing the brighter the vowel. (Lips closer to teeth)
NOTE WEIGHT
7. The longer the note the more weight you put on it.
8. The shorter the note the less weight you put on it.
NOTE SHAPE
9. Every note has shape and contour. (crescendo, decrescendo, tenuto, staccato) (When listening to younger musicians you notice that every note is the same and has no shape, contour or direction.)
10. You never sit on a long note. (You must either increase volume or decrease volume)
11. When singing a series of notes on the same pitch each note must be altered for interest. (Four quarter notes, on the same pitch, become boring unless you make them interesting with shape, contour, and volume.)
RHYTHM
12. When singing a note that is three times longer than the note that follows, you must separate. (Examples Dotted half note followed by a quarter note - You Separate. Dotted Quarter followed by eighth - you separate, Dotted eighth followed by sixteenth - you separate.
ACCIDENTALS
13. An accidental is a Sharp, Flat or Natural sign that takes the note out of the key and you should emphasize or accent the accidental so that the listener won't think you just made a mistake.
14. A rhythm accidental is syncopation or any beat that does not occur on the pulse and you should emphasize or accent all rhythm accidentals.
MESSAGE
15. The message is most important. Enunciate well. Communicate well. Understand the message that you are trying to get across to the audience. Do your part to inspire and edify the audience. (When your spirit bears witness to their spirit, both will be edified.)