| After learning how to use the breath generated by a | | | | however, as the "a" vowel is usually pronounced too |
| flexible diaphragm, which is the first and most important | | | | far back, many singers find difficulty singing this vowel |
| step in singing, it is necessary to combine the breath | | | | in particularly in the middle voice where the "a" vowel |
| with easy exercises using the vowels. Discovering | | | | must resonate in the mask. The mask is a term used |
| which vowel is the easiest to produce is important as it | | | | to delineate the area of bones from the cheekbones |
| helps to warm up quicker and well with an effortless | | | | to the far head. The "o" vowel utilizes the lips for |
| vowel. An effortless vowel resonates in the nasal and | | | | formation as does the "u", but once again, the vowel |
| mask resonators. With the right vowel, simple | | | | must not resonate in the lips as the lips are too low for |
| exercises can be custom made for each singer, which | | | | classical vocal placement with the exception of the |
| will teach resonance eventually throughout all the | | | | low voice below the passagio where it is possible to |
| vowels and the range. For each singer the vowel may | | | | resonate lower than the mask. In the middle and high |
| be different. | | | | voice awareness of the upper inner jaw brings the "o" |
| Some singers can sing a resonant "e" vowel and build | | | | vowel to the right resonating place. Basses very often |
| the entire voice on that vowel, although it is necessary | | | | have an easy "o" vowel. |
| to modify the "e" in the upper register above the | | | | After discovering which vowel or vowels are easiest |
| passaggio to a rounder vowel sound as the "e" vowel | | | | for each singer, one makes simple exercises utilizing |
| becomes strident in the high register of each voice | | | | that vowel together with release of the air from the |
| category.The word passaggio means passage in | | | | diaphragm. Examples of easy exercises are a three |
| Italian. In vocal terminology, however, it refers to the | | | | note scale or a five note scale, depending on the |
| transition between registers. More space is required | | | | singer's breath. The singer must not get overly tight |
| above the passaggio in the high register and below the | | | | due to lack of breath and end up squeezing the |
| passaggio in the low register and that is achieved by | | | | muscles at the diaphragm. Eventually all vowels must |
| dropping the jaw, relaxing the larynx and creating a | | | | be equalized so that they resound in the nasal (not in |
| feeling of resonation in the high middle and high back | | | | the nose but behind it) and mask resonators for the |
| portion (for the very high notes) of the head. Pure | | | | middle voice and further back in the head resonators |
| vowels, which are used for the middle voice, need to | | | | for the higher range above the passaggio. |
| be modified in this area of the voice so that the quality | | | | For any genre of singing other than classical, the |
| of sound will match what went before, and not | | | | vowels remain at the level of forward speech. The |
| become thin. | | | | rock, blues and jazz singer does not require the internal |
| Some singers have a resonant "u" vowel. The "u" | | | | space that the classical singer needs to produce the |
| vowel, although formed at the lips must resonate | | | | extremities of the voice. For these genres, correct |
| higher than the lips: for the middle voice, in the dome or | | | | breath support and forward speech is enough. For the |
| upper inner jaw. Best of all, an "u" vowel may be taken | | | | classical singer, only the middle voice is at the level of |
| above the passaggio with only a bit more dropped | | | | forward speech. After the passaggio, more space is |
| jaw needed, with excellent results. | | | | required. |
| Some lucky singers have a lovely round "a" vowel, | | | | |