Approaches to choral blend
Conductors’ concepts of desired choral sound can have a substantial effect on how they go about achieving blend. Regardless of the choral conductor's concept of choral sound, blend can be achieved without sacrificing individual vocal integrity. Recent research supports the move away from the technique of requesting all singers to sound the same or sacrifice individual tone quality and individuality to achieve choral blend (Knutson, B. J. (1987). The tips below make it possible to achieve blend without sacrificing the individual singer.
Tips for achieving choral blend
Here are a few essentials for achieving choral blend:
Spotlight on sopranos and dynamic level
Sopranos sing at pitch levels in a range where the human ear is keenly sensitive. If sopranos are asked to reduce their volume, a reduction in sound quality and intonation, as well as blend, may result. If this is the case, consider encouraging the other sections to sing out more.
Spotlight on developing singers and dynamic level
Developing singers are often encouraged by their voice teachers to sing with a full sound to facilitate the development of supported, resonant singing. Singing softly is, simply put, a more advanced skill. Offering helpful techniques and reminders about soft singing can be beneficial. Also, more often than not, allowing a comfortable level of production is important. Learn very soft passages at a slightly louder dynamic than you might ultimately perform them so that singers can have the mechanics of the rhythms, pitches, and words under control before attending to extreme dynamic levels. We also recommend more frequent staggered breathing.
Some of the additional topics covered in Vocal Technique
Tips for achieving choral blend
Here are a few essentials for achieving choral blend:
- Uniform vowel production within sections
- Precise, quick consonants
- Precise rhythms
- Precise cutoffs/releases
- Attention to dynamics
Spotlight on sopranos and dynamic level
Sopranos sing at pitch levels in a range where the human ear is keenly sensitive. If sopranos are asked to reduce their volume, a reduction in sound quality and intonation, as well as blend, may result. If this is the case, consider encouraging the other sections to sing out more.
Spotlight on developing singers and dynamic level
Developing singers are often encouraged by their voice teachers to sing with a full sound to facilitate the development of supported, resonant singing. Singing softly is, simply put, a more advanced skill. Offering helpful techniques and reminders about soft singing can be beneficial. Also, more often than not, allowing a comfortable level of production is important. Learn very soft passages at a slightly louder dynamic than you might ultimately perform them so that singers can have the mechanics of the rhythms, pitches, and words under control before attending to extreme dynamic levels. We also recommend more frequent staggered breathing.
Some of the additional topics covered in Vocal Technique
- Detailed discussion of factors affecting blend
- Philosophies of blend
- Roles of timbre, covering, and falsetto to produce blending
- Physical placement of sections
- Positioning of singers within sections
- Distance between individual singers (singer spacing)