Summer Sound Lab

“Choir Section Challenge”

Split by parts:

Sopranos

Altos

Tenors

Basses

Give each section a random word like:

grace

river

light

joy

They have 20 seconds to sing any lyric containing that word.

Fast, loud, competitive, and musical.

TIMED

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Purpose Statement: The Calvary Music Collective is a fellowship of born-again believers who desire to exalt Jesus Christ through the presentation of music done with excellence, passion, and Spirit-fulness.

Collective:

conveys the meaning of

unity

collaboration

community

creativity

mission

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“Three Tools God Gave Your Voice”

Introduction

“Tonight, before we sing, I want to spend just a few minutes talking about three important parts of the voice that God designed to help us sing well:

The diaphragm — your support system

The vocal cords — your sound source

The soft palate — your resonance and tone

Think of it like this:

The diaphragm is the engine.

The vocal cords are the instrument.

The soft palate is the acoustics of the room.

1. The Diaphragm — The Breath Support

“The diaphragm is a large muscle underneath your lungs. When you breathe correctly for singing, the diaphragm moves downward and allows your lungs to fill deeply.”

Demonstration- good and bad

“Everybody place your hand on your stomach.”

“Now take a shallow breath into your chest.”

(Allow them to do it.)

“Notice how your shoulders rise?”

“Now take a deep breath low into your body—let your stomach expand.”

“That’s healthier breathing for singing.”

Teaching Point

“We don’t sing FROM the throat. We sing on supported breath.”

“A weak breath creates weak tone, pitch problems, and vocal fatigue.”

Exercise

“Let’s inhale for 4 counts and hiss for 8 counts.”

Inhale: 1-2-3-4

Hiss: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8

Repeat once.

Illustration

“Think of breath support like air flowing through an organ pipe. The steadier the air, the steadier the sound.”

2. The Vocal Cords — The Sound Source

“Your vocal cords are two small folds of tissue inside the larynx. Air passes through them, and they vibrate to create sound.”

Important Principle

“The vocal cords are not supposed to force sound. They respond to healthy airflow.”

Demonstration

“Everybody say the word ‘hello’ normally.”

“Now whisper it.”

“Now shout it.”

“Which one felt easiest and healthiest? The normal voice.”

Teaching Point

“In choir singing, we are aiming for free tone—not squeezed tone.”

“Many singers try to create volume by pushing from the throat. But good singing is supported by breath and released naturally.”

Exercise

“Let’s do a gentle siren together.”

Start low

Slide upward on ‘oo’

Then back down

“Keep it relaxed. No tension in the jaw or neck.”

Reminder

“If your throat hurts after singing, something is probably being forced.”

3. The Soft Palate — Creating Resonance

“The soft palate is the soft tissue at the back of the roof of your mouth.”

“It helps create resonance—the richness and openness of tone.”

Demonstration

“Everybody yawn gently.”

“Feel that lifting sensation in the back of your mouth?”

“That’s the soft palate lifting.”

Teaching Point

“When the soft palate is lifted, the tone becomes warmer, fuller, and less nasal.”

Demonstration

“Sing ‘ah’ with a pinched nose sound.”

(Nasal example.)

“Now lift the soft palate like a yawn and sing it again.”

(Open example.)

Exercise

“Let’s sing: ‘mah–may–mee–moh–moo’

Think:

relaxed jaw

lifted soft palate

open sound”

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Choir Songs: (5:25-5:5))

What He’s Done

The Lord is mY Salvation

How Great Thou Art