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Writer's pictureJoseph Raso

The Art of Chiaroscuro and the Pitfall of Over-Darkening Vowels




"Covering" or "Tilting" the sound—is a critical strategy aimed at enhancing vocal colour while minimising tension. This approach, essential for preserving the voice's purity and richness, can sometimes lead to unexpected challenges, especially when it involves the artificial or forcing of darkening vowels. This issue is something I encounter frequently in consultations with singers across all skill levels which leads to frustration from the student.


Rather than alleviating the issue of tension and 'lift,' it introduces a new set of complications. The voice might lose its tension, but at the cost of sounding breathy and lifeless. I often refer this affect similar to the muting of a piano with its mute pedal. This results in a voice lacking in colour and harmonics, limiting its projection capabilities.


Many singers are drawn to the concept of a lowered larynx, anticipating it will grant them unmatched projection and a rich sound—a reasonable expectation. However, the disillusionment sets in when they find the reality on stage to be disappointingly different from what they expected. This result stems from overlooking a crucial aspect: the appropriate adduction of sound which is lost when the singer over darkens the vowel. Is it fine to adopt a 'wolfy' sound in an attempt to train the voice to tilt if it ends up suppressing your natural sound? No,


What, then, is the optimal solution? The key is to keep the integrity of the vowel (usually sung of good quality firstly in your comfortable range) and as you ascend in your vocal register, engaging in the voice's tilt without succumbing to the temptation to darken the vowel as a means to counteract tension, leads to your desired result.


Embracing the correct method of tilt/cover can lead to a sound that is youthful, vibrant, and dynamic, allowing for greater expressiveness. For those seeking deeper insights and clarification on these concepts such as keeping the 'integrity of the vowel' and proper vocal tilt, I recommend exploring further discussions on covering the voice which you can find in some of my other articles. It's my hope that this guidance proves beneficial on your vocal journey.

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