Submitted by Karen Stafford
Idea posted February 10, 2005
I LOVE using Mr. Bill and Mickey Mouse voices to get the feel of the head voice. (I actually have an article on MusicEducationMadness.com about a related topic.) For solfège, I make up a story using solfège syllables. The students have to pay close attention to see where the syllables pop up in the story. I use Curwin hand signs as I tell the story. My story also incorporates a lowing cow, so the kids "moo" in a low voice. Then the cow gets poked with a pitchfork (no animals were harmed in the making of this story), and the kids get in their head voice real fast!
The scarf trick is also neat. The students ascend as the scarf goes up, then their pitch descends as the scarf drifts to the floor. The students also like doing high and low body movements as I play on the piano.
Something I learned from Jan Gippo: When breathing in, you know your throat is open if you feel coolness in your throat. I tell the kids they need to have that "peppermint patty" sensation when inhaling.