Range Exercise: Mixed Glissandos
This exercise is designed to challenge the transition between registers (passaggio) with a variety of formants, which targets the dimension of range.
Exercise & Customization
Component Breakdown
Formant: Oo/Ee/Ah
The coordination and movement of the lip, tongue and jaw articulators needed to form the selected formants, target the dimension of articulation. The constant modification of back pressure from the rotating formants also challenges breathing, tone, range and strength.
Feature: N/A
No feature has been added to this exercise.
Pattern: G1-3-1-5-1-8-1
Navigating multiple intervallic distances within an octave span on a single breath, especially while transitioning between registers, requires a great deal of coordination with the muscles associated with range.
Volume: Medium
A medium volume addresses all of the dimensions relatively evenly.
Tempo: Slow
Slow-moving glissandos (featured in this exercise) focus on the development of your functional range due to the strength, breath control and responsiveness of the vocal folds required to move through the passaggio.
Variable: N/A
No variable has been added to this exercise.
Guided Exercise
Exercise Components
Formant: Oo/Ee/Ah | Feature: N/A | Pattern: G1-3-1-5-1-8-1 | Volume: Medium | Tempo: Slow | Variable: N/A
Follow along with the Guided Exercise video above before practicing with the MP3 below. Be sure to apply the Guidelines when training, and practice along with the Guided Exercise video above as needed.
Exercise Customization
The following modified exercise components will help you customize an exercise that is right for you.
Make It Easier
To make the exercise easier, try the following modifications:
Formant: M
An M formant provides a fair amount of back pressure, making it easier for the folds to stretch and work through the passaggio. This formant will reduce the challenge of range. However, the increased focus on flexibility is still beneficial to the development of range.
Volume: Quiet
A smaller degree of subglottic pressure that comes with reducing the volume level will make it easier to transition between registers and reduces the level of difficulty for range, tone, articulation and strength.
Make It More Challenging
To make the exercise more challenging, try the following modifications:
Formant: Ah
The open position of this formant requires better management of air and more vocal strength, challenging the coordination of the muscles associated with articulation and range.
Volume: Loud
An increase in air pressure underneath the vocal folds will further challenge the skills needed to develop range, strength, breathing and tone.
