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Re: Tuning and vocal cavity

Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2009-10-29 00:13

Paul Aviles wrote:

> NO.
>
> The pitch is generated from the moment the air column is set in
> motion by the reed.
>
> Of course the oral cavity would have an effect on how
> efficiently (or not) you are producing a steady stream of air.

The oral cavity can't do much about the air pressure ... moving your tongue to change the "speed" of the air isn't doing much to the velocity compared with the pressure differential around that narrow reed/mouthpiece opening. The effect of changing tongue position is real because:

There are TWO resonant systems in play when you set the reed vibrating ... the resonances of the instruments both in front of and behind the reed, and the interplay between them is complex and non-linear. The instrument in front is man-made, the instrument behind is a natural, organic thing. Varying either system causes some real changes in the sound we hear (and, of course, how we interpret what we hear - and how we express it in our language - is a real problem in reliable communication).

The oral cavities and sinuses have a lot to do with how you can color the sound (change the resonances) and you have to fiddle internally about to find out what does what on the inside. We have a whole pantry full of gimmicks that work, but the way they work is mostly different than what people imagine. It doesn't hurt anyone to talk about them as if there's real "physics" behind them as long as we know that by whatever method, they work.

Does this mean that some people have an easier time creating some tone colors than others? Or that some people can have a larger range or palette of colors?

Yes. We're not all equal. We all have different gifts and restrictions. It's what we do with both that matters.

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Tuning and vocal cavity new

Bennett

2009-10-28 17:18