The Hierarchy




	The Hierachy of Fundamental Skills (As the skills below are linked, click on them for suggested exercises and techniques) Individual Vocal Skills Posture and Alignment Stance, weight distribution Legs, knees Hips, pelvic tuck Torso, chest, shoulders Head Abdominal-Costal Breathing Nearly passive inspiration Active expiration Managed control of breath pressure Freely produced phonation resulting in a robust, resonant tone Vocal mechanism free from tension, especially jaw and neck Tone initiated by virtue of breath passing between proximate versus closed glottis Relaxed and open laryngeal and oral pharynx evidenced by lowered larynx and raised soft palate Relaxed tongue extended to gently rest on the lower gum ridge Lips lifted away from the teeth Ensemble Vocal Skills Vowel Target Sounds Uniformity Choice of target sounds Proper positioning of the articulators (jaw, tongue, lips) Syllable Connectors Singable Anticipatory Continuant Balance with vowel sounds Non-Singable Duration Expressive weight Relation to vowel target sound Unison Synchronization Duet and Trio tuning Chords Melody volume relationship Pitch volume relationship Chord function volume relationship Voicing volume relationship Individual Visual Skills Body Movement Legs, Feet Arms, Hands Torso, Head Facial Expression Brow Eyes Lower face, mouth Ensemble Visual Skills Stance and positioning of singers Character and Role Playing Balance between Uniformity versus Individual Expression Choreography Musicianship Meter, Rhythm and Tempo Phrasing, Contour and Line Theme - Lyric, Melodic, Harmonic, Rhythmic, Comic Unity and Contrast Form Climax Choice of Material Difficulty Tessitura Appropriateness Presentation Stage Presence and Deportment Entrance, Acceptance, Exit MC, Backup Non-singing time Performance Packaging Song choice and order Patter versus segue Theme Encores Audience Rapport and Timing VIEW COACHING NOTES FROM PAST SESSIONS AND SUBMIT NEW ASSESSMENTS (approved coaches only) ~Singing A's~


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