A Vocal Exercise

Writers: AL
Date Posted: 19th April 2008

Characters: Lirit, Destina
Description: Lirit goes over a new vocal exercise with Destina.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 8, day 1 of Turn 4

Lirit couldn't help but wince as Destina hit the highnot, but was flat and airy. She didn't have the support she needed and it showed quite obviously in her voice. He placed his hand gently over the strings of the gitar he had been playing in accompaniment to muffle the sound. Automatically, Destina stopped.

"All right, I can definitely hear improvement." This was true. Just a month prior, Destina's voice had been much more raspy and even flatter. Still, there was also a lot of room for improvement. "However, you're still running a little flat and your support needs more strength. I'm going to add another exercise that I want you to do." "Okay." Destina tipped her head, her brow furrowing. She had thought it sounded fine, but Lirit's ear was a lot more developed than her own.

Lirit stood, reaching out and moving closer to the young girl. "Do you remember what we talked about in regards to support?"

The young woman nodded, then realised that the expression would be of no use to her teacher. "Yes. You don't use your throat, you use your stomach."

"Right."

"I've been trying Lirit, but I just don't get it. I don't understand how it's supposed to feel." Destina shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot.

"Ah, but that's a problem that's very easily fixed!" Lirit flashed the girl a grin and Destina couldn't help but smile in return. "Do you laugh?"

"Of course I do?" Destina laughed as if to prove that she could. "Good, good!" Lirit snapped his fingers, "Now, when you laugh, where do you feel it?" "Well...down...in my stomach, but lower, not higher." "That's exactly where I want you to sing from." Lirit placed his hands upon his stomach to indicate the area. "From down here. Now, you also ahve to remember, this is a muscle, and muscles aren't automatically strong. You have to use them, exercise them, stretch them. They get a work out, they get sore, but they also get stronger. This is not going to be something you will catch on to right away. It's going to take time and practise. You'll have times where you'll feel like someone's punched you that, but that's good. That means you've given it a work and you're helping to make it stronger. Does that make sense?"

"Yes." It did sort of make sense. Destina mimicked Lirit, placing her hands upon her abdomen. "Now, here's an exercise that I want you do to every day. More than once a day if you can." Lirit moved over to a wall and faced it. He paused for a moment, then turned his head towards his pupil.

"By the way," He said, his mouth quirking in amusement. "You might want to make sure you're alone when you do this. It can seem a little weird to those who don't understand." With that Lirit turned back to the wall, facing it. There was a little space between it and his toes, but his stomach was resting against the wall. "Ha, ha, ha. Hear that? You're going to pretend like you're laughing. I want you to do this every day, just so you get it into your muscle memory."

"Muscle memory?" Now that didn't make any sense to Destina.

"Oh yes." Lirit nodded, still facing the wall. "When you do something over and over and over again in a certain situation, your body will eventually react and do it without you ever thinking about it. It's in your memory, but it's not really a conscious thing after a while."

"Oh." Destina walked up to the wall, just a little bit away from Lirit and copied his stance. "Ha, ha, ha." He was right. It was a bit embarassing. In fact, Destina felt down right silly. But, if it would help her improve, then it was worth it. At least she didn't have to do it when there were other people around. "Good, good!" Lirit stepped back from the wall and nodded. "Do that oh...thirty times in a row, or more if you feel up to it."

"Oookay." Destina moved away, looking a bit doubtful, but at least willing to try it. "I think that's enough for today." Lirit shuffled his way back over to his gitar and clasped it gently by the neck. "Make sure you go over 'Ere The Flowers Bloom' and 'Dragonfire'. Hit them hard, memorize them, and remember what I told you."

"All right." Destina twisted her foot back and forth. No one ever said that singing was going to be so much work. But, she supposed, nothing worth having was easy. "I guess I'll see you in a couple of days."

"I look forward to it Destina. You have talent." That was also not a lie. Despite her flaws, there was so much potential in the girl's voice. She just needed guidance and practise. "Now let's develop it into skill."

Destina nodded, forgetting once more that Lirit could see, then stated, "Thanks Lirit." before moving out of the room.

Last updated on the May 1st 2008

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A Vocal Exercise