Teaching Singing to Teenagers

It is essential to be very careful when teaching singing to teenagers. In my approach, I first explain how to access the upper register, which differs significantly from the mechanics of the speaking voice. Female voices, for instance, often encounter significant challenges with the first passaggio—the transition between the chest and head registers. Many young singers tend to push their chest register too high; this can cause vocal strain that may even negatively affect their daily speaking voice. Young male voices, on the other hand, face a distinct challenge. In an attempt to emulate pop artists, many baritones and basses fail to discover their authentic timbre. This is largely because they tend to pull their chest voice into the higher notes where pop music is typically sung. To address these issues, it is crucial to explain the role of resonance in producing high notes, as well as the laryngeal movement involved in the process. Specifically, the larynx lowers slightly to facilitate the tilting of the vocal folds, allowing for a healthy and balanced production of the high range. Including SOVT (Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract) exercises These exercises are the "gold standard" for managing the passaggio and laryngeal tilting. Practical Application: SOVT Exercises To facilitate this transition and encourage proper laryngeal tilting, I incorporate SOVT (Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract) exercises into the daily routine. These techniques, such as lip bubbles, tongue trills, or singing through a straw, create back-pressure in the vocal tract. This pressure helps to: Balance the subglottal pressure, reducing the tendency to "push" the chest voice. Stabilize the larynx, preventing it from rising too high during the passaggio. Encourage vocal fold thinning, which is necessary for reaching high notes without strain. By practicing these glides and scales, students can experience the "basculamento" (tilting) sensation in a protected environment before applying it to their repertoire. Terminology Check Subglottal pressure: Pressione sottoglottica. Vocal fold thinning: Sottigliamento delle corde vocali (necessario per le note alte). Glides: Glissati (fondamentali per sentire il passaggio tra i registri). A Final Polish for the Whole Report Since you are writing this professionally, would you like me to combine everything into one single, clean document that you can copy and paste? I can also add a brief introductory sentence if you'd like.