Description:
Singing softly creates intimacy and contrast. However, soft singing is not whispering. Whispering pushes excess air through the vocal folds and disconnects support.
Instead:
- Imagine fogging a mirror with a gentle “Ha”
- Feel warm air while maintaining support
Soft dynamics are more about timbre and character than extreme volume reduction. The voice should still project clearly.
Finding a Light Mix
Exercise
Zoofweeeyah (1-3-5-8-5-3-1) – Start D
Modify vowels to feel taller and more back-focused.
Allow an easy shift from chest voice to head voice.
Allow an easy shift from chest voice to head voice.
Pulling Head Voice Down
Exercise
Who Am I Now (6-7-8-5) – F to Bb
Start in head voice and descend into a light chest coordination.
Maintain a gentle, warm timbre.
Maintain a gentle, warm timbre.
Seamless Light Mix
Aim for a speech-like quality in the middle range with a soft, sing-song timbre.
Practice narrating a short story in a lullaby style.
Keep it natural and simple.
Focus on flow rather than perfection.
Keep it natural and simple.
Focus on flow rather than perfection.
Lessons:
- 1: Welcome
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2:
Singing LOUD
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3:
Singing Soft
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4:
Dynamic Range
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5:
Conclusion Songwork
Instructor: Abram Poliakoff
Abram Poliakoff is a singer, guitarist, pianist, teacher, conductor, and composer. He received a Bachelors of Music in Vocal Arts from USC’s Thornton School of Music and has been teaching music for 8 years. He is currently both the Associate Artistic Director and a tenor in the L.A. Choral Lab, which recently released its first studio album Sonic Visions in the fall of 2019. Abram teaches and performs a wide range of genres including Classical, Jazz, Folk and Popular music in the Los Angeles area. He has also sung with the San Francisco Opera and Pocket Opera in the Bay Area. His teaching mission is to help his students utilize vocal technique to find their authentic and healthy voice while maximizing genre flexibility and a naturalness of expression.