
Overtone chant and throat singing - remembering an ancient vocal technique
This fascinating style of singing originates in Central Asia (Mongolia & Tuva) where it is known as Khoomei.
It allows the simultaneous production of two or more notes by the same singer. This feat is accomplished by deliberate enhancement of the natural harmonics found in our voices.
Overtone singing can be safely and easily learnt by men and women of all ages.
A few simple exercises will quickly unlock the wonderful healing and meditational qualities of these unique sounds.
These techniques:
·Need no prior experience and no musical ‘ability’
·Can allow musical expression free from judgment
·Can allow singer and listener alike to enter deep states of meditative calm and connectedness to their higher selves
·Can release energy blockages and balance the energies of the chakras
·Can facilitate personal journeying and transformation
.Are fun and interesting!
Getting the most out of these lectures.
Take a quick look at all the features Udemy offer to help you get the most from these lectures including a few not so easy to find sections with extra content.
My hope is that, once you enroll on this course, you will take between one to 4 lectures per week so that you have plenty of time to practice and perfect each technique before moving on. Most folks have busy lives so I find with my 1-2-1 students that this interval is about right for most. If you have more or less free time you may with to spped or slow the pace a little but PLEASE try not to rush through. It's not a contest and I really want to help you sing really well so a good control of each technique is pretty vital to that process. It's easy to think 'oh yeah I know that already' or 'I've got that down' but check in with each section and be sure you reproduce the examples well (and feel free to be better than me!) before taking the next lecture.
This is especially important if you already have some skills. I have worked with all levels of singers over the years and it is the more advanced ones that sometimes struggle to add a new technique to their repetoire. Learn it all at the beginning and you won't look back! Some stuff might seem basic or straight-forward but give it a try before moving on. I hope my style of teaching is pretty comprehensive as I've worked with so many different folks at different levels and I pride myself on the ability to really break things down into their simplest components for easy understanding.
or cough, a cold or any other ailment that affects
the tongue, throat, and lungs. Asthmatics need to
be extra careful but if they proceed slowly they
may actually find many of the exercises beneficial.
soreness in the throat, protracted coughing, or
feeling dizzy – STOP. Take a few days off and be
extra careful when you try again.
An overview of the technical terms used in the course
Posture is very important when learning to sing. Also what environments to seek out and which to avoid.
Warming up the body and the voice before starting ANY exercises or lectures in this course.
Please ensure to do this before each lecture / practice session.
Starting with some simple 'toning' - held vowel sounds.
Discovering the harmonics hidden within the vowels.
Adding and controlling nasality, an important component.
Lip movement isolation exercises.
Tongue movement to control harmonic production.
A more advanced technique that starts to really allow the harmonics to be stronger and more audible.
Lip control for more definition in higher harmonics.
Exercises to gain greater clarity and volume of the harmonics.
Pitch alteration exercises.
A fun alternate technique that uses lip 'shuttering'.
Glottal control techniques.
Using overtone singing techniques for sound therapy.
Proceed with caution but if you follow my recommendations then you should avoid too much vocal irritation.
Beginnings of the 'khoomei' sound.
Better control over the Khoomei and how to create basic scales.
Some fun variations to try with Khoomei voice.
The beginnings of the low voice style 'Khargyraa'.
Improving the sound and avoiding irritation.
Improving further, building sustain and controlling the basic scale.
Welcome to this intriguing style.
A recap of the skills needed before continuing.
Western style and using the tongue.
Adding the sensation of 'locking'.
Exercises to help locking.
Improvements.
Starting to hold back the drone.
Adding clarity and improving the sound.
Practice and more practice.
Increasing numbers of people are finding themselves drawn to the ethereal and intriguing sounds that have travelled into Europe and America, primarily from Mongolia and Tuva in the former Soviet Union. Most recently popularised in the West by the touring musicians Huun Huur Tu, Yat Kha, and Sainkho Namatchlyak this fascinating style of singing allows the simultaneous production of two or more notes by the same singer. This astounding feat is accomplished by deliberate enhancement of the natural harmonics found in our voices. The voice, mouth, lips, teeth, jaw, throat, tongue, lungs and diaphragm can all be used in a subtle and complex concert that will allow you to produce these wonderful sounds.
Overtone and throat singing can be safely and easily learnt by men and women of all ages.
A few simple exercises will quickly unlock the wonderful healing and meditational qualities of these unique sounds.
These techniques:
·Need no prior experience and no musical ‘ability’
·Can allow musical expression free from judgment
·Can allow singer and listener alike to enter deep states of meditative calm and connectedness to their higher selves
·Can release energy blockages and balance the energies of the chakras
·Can facilitate personal journeying and transformation