Comments on: Dynamics for Singers 101: What do forte and piano REALLY mean to the voice?

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 05:29:25 +0000

Thanks Gretchen!!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 05:27:52 +0000

Ian & Robert –
Thanks so much for your comments! This is something I’ve been thinking a lot about, and since I teach a large number of younger/beginning singers, I’ve developed language to talk about the voice in a way that’s strongly pedagogically based, but is, hopefully, accessible to a wide audience. Spread the word! I’m also trying to post much more frequently – one of my New Year’s Resolutions. So, more to come!

By: Gretchen Saathoff

Gretchen Saathoff — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:32:33 +0000

Excellent considerations, Rachel!

By: Tweets that mention Rachel Velarde, Lyric Mezzo-Soprano » Dynamics for Singers 101: What do forte and piano REALLY mean to the voice? -- Topsy.com

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:10:11 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by chopin_slut, Rachel Day Velarde. Rachel Day Velarde said: Please comment on my new blog post: "Dynamics for Singers 101" http://bit.ly/90aa9P Thanks!! [...]

By: robert phillips

robert phillips — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:08:28 +0000

Excellent! All musicians should read. Especially pianists. Understanding the dynamics and physiology of voice helps those of us who play percussion instruments.

%%robert aka @chopin_slut

By: Ian

Ian — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:27:45 +0000

Hi Rachel,

I totally agree that if we focus on volume then the effect is overblowing or under-energization. I love some of your images to counter this tendency, especially the difference between a group conversation vs a private conversation.

What is helpful to me is to contrast “dynamic” with its antonym “static”. A voice can be static whether it’s loud or soft. By focusing on the dynamic movement from loud to soft a singer can spend less time statically in any extreme.

In this vein, the dynamic markings are just averages for a given section. After all, there is still some give and take even within a section called “forte”. It has to remain dynamic and changing.