Story & Photos by Kyle Schledwitz/COMM 1318
It may not be a trumpet or violin. But the human voice is an instrument just the same.
Teagan Henson, a voice major in the SPC fine arts department, is pictured here in one of her private voice lessons. Voice major lessons usually each last an hour.
In the picture above, Teagan is using kinetics to better use what vocalists call a “belt”. Her voice teacher, SPC Assistant Professor of Music Annie Nichols-Burge, says it is a technique that can be used to produce different musical ideas as well as deeper emotions.
“Belting is often used as a tool to demonstrate a powerful emotion like joy, excitement, anger, or heartbreak,” Nichols-Burge says. “Usually, belting is reserved for the climactic moment of a song.”
Nichols-Burge says what most people don’t realize is a person’s entire body plays a role in the sound he or she creates. In other words, it’s not just about vocal cords.
“Your whole body serves as your instrument,” she says. “You have to watch what you eat, as things like acid reflux can greatly affect your vocal health.”
The picture above is a shot of Teagan practicing something else her teacher says can affect her voice’s tone: posture.
“Regular voice lessons provide a foundation of technique that is helpful in sustaining a long-lasting career,” Nichols-Burge says.
Nichols-Burge is pictured above performing at the “Annie and Friends” musical theater she recently hosted. It was a chance for her and former students to gather and practice their performance skills for a live audience.
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