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Date Posted: 09:53:02 04/01/05 Fri
Author: Rosemary
Subject: Monotone Singers

At school we have a girl in eighth grade choir that can only sing (and speak) roughly two pitches. Siren exercises and vocalises can't seem to remedy this problem. Advice on how to make the best of this situation, especially for contest (since she sticks out?)?

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Replies:

[> Re: Monotone Singers -- Dr. O., 11:01:58 04/04/05 Mon [1]

This is a real problem which probably will require a long-term (rather than immediate) fix. How about trying to use technology? This might be a strange idea, but it could possibly work. I used this method to help flutists develop vibrato when I taught in high school.

You might experiment with an electronic tuner; preferably one with a needle-type gauge, or better yet a strobe-type tuner. Most electronic tuners will recognize any pitch, so have the student sing into the tuner while watching the needle dial. At first, try to get them to modulate their voice slightly to get the needle to the "in-tune" position. Then, have them adjust their voice gradually up and down and watch the needle move accordingly. This might be difficult for them at first, so it will take patience and commitment. The goal of this is just to get the student to feel what it is like to modulate the voice at all. The first attempts are likely to involve gross movement rather than fine movement. Over time, the student should be able to learn to move the needle up and down in predictable patterns. That would be a first step in gaining control of the voice over larger patterns and more precise movements. As I said earlier, this won't happen quickly, but it might work.

There is a possibility, of course, that the student has a physical problem which prevents their being able to modulate the voice. This could be related to the vocal chords, or could also be hearing-based. I wouldn't discount this as a possibility. If so, it might be literally impossible for the student to control the voice.

Dr. O.


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[> [> Re: Monotone Singers -- Jessie, 07:06:26 04/05/05 Tue [1]

I had a 50 yr old private student who wanted to be able to sing for a local try out at a theatre. He was also a monotone singer. I did many warm-ups with him and spent alot of time modeling the pitch. He was eventually able to sing pretty close in pitch. This process took two years, and he finally had enough confidence to actually sing a song in a theatre play!


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[> [> [> Re: Monotone Singers -- Cynthia Holcomb, 05:55:58 04/11/05 Mon [1]

This topic brings back a fun memory of when I sang a monotone solo in a women's chorus in college. During the entire song I sang one note while the rest of the chorus sang around me. I remember some of the words, "I'm a singer who doesn't belong. They call me a monotone. While you sing a beautiful song, I'm stuck on one note all alone." I remember it was well received by the audience and brought about many smiles!


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[> [> [> [> Re: Monotone Singers -- Patrick Clinage, 23:36:10 02/05/06 Sun [1]

my mother sang that song a few years ago i belive it was called "The Monotone Singer" it was such a wonderfully humorous song when she sang it... the crowd laughed when it was done... i wish i could find the music again thanks for reminding me of past memories


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