Singers with Wobbly Vibrato- Can they hear what they sound like?
  • SponsaChristi
    Posts: 674
    I was at Mass tonight for Ash Wednesday and was struggling to understand what was being sung because one of the persons singing had really wide wobbly vibrato and that’s all I could hear.

    I don’t mean to be mean, but do people who sing like that know they sing like that, know it doesn’t sound good, and actively work to try to fix it?
  • probe
    Posts: 101
    Is this article by Shirlee Emmons Vibrato, Wobble, Tremolo, and Bleat a help?
    Also see a discussion here on straight tone.
    As to your specific question "do people who sing like that know they sing like that" my working assumption is that people sing the way they think they should, more or less following their understanding of what the conductor has asked the choir to do, overlaid by their opinion of what they think the choir needs. They may have a self-image of being a leader. The only way to answer that is to ask them, but I don't think that gets you or them anywhere. IMO the only way to actively work to fix it is for someone experienced in vocal technique to listen and propose changes to fix it. I'm an amateur conductor so don't have in-depth experience to call upon. That's one of the reasons I have asked an experienced chant leader to take us in an afternoon workshop next month.

    Does the conductor / music director have the kind of relationship that allows asking the singer to come to rehearsal a half hour early to work through 'techniques of choir blend and balance' privately or for 15 minutes before the others arrive?

  • francis
    Posts: 11,279
    In my career it seems this pedagogy arises as a distortion that comes from the world of opera buffs. My personal take is that it represents ego. Not that ego is bad… it has its place… but that place is NOT sacred music. Another term closely associated to it is “diva”.
  • FSSPmusic
    Posts: 469
    A colleague calls them "friendly voices" because they wave at you from across the room ;)
    Thanked by 5ServiamScores CHGiffen canadash Charles_Weaver Abbysmum
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 3,224
    Fssp that gave me a deep hearty chuckle this morning. That’s a keeper.
    Thanked by 1FSSPmusic
  • davido
    Posts: 1,174
    The answer to the OP is no, they don’t know, and they probably aren’t working to fix it. They probably had just enough voice lessons years ago to make them dangerous, but not enough to work out their vocal faults. They probably do not listen to recordings of their own singing and try to self diagnose vocal faults.
    Thanked by 1CharlesW
  • SponsaChristi
    Posts: 674
    Is this article by Shirlee Emmons Vibrato, Wobble, Tremolo, and Bleat a help?

    Yes it was, actually. Thanks. It seems I may be part of the problem since I have very refined hearing, which makes it even more obvious to me. I don’t think it’s just me though. I noticed more times than can be considered a coincidence the organ gets louder precisely at the same time irritation starts getting unbearable if they’re practicing before Mass in the church with limited numbers of choir members.

    Our MD isn’t incompetent in these types of matters, so I’m sure he’s done whatever can be done. I’m not looking to interfere. It’s obvious she’s not musically incompetent and seems like she can read music and sight sing, which is something that I should probably spend more time practicing rather than being judgmental. I’m just trying to better understand the issue so I can lessen being irritated and distracted by it during Mass.
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 12,060
    That wobble seems to be a natural occurrence over time. In aging choirs which young folks don't seem to want to join anymore, it has become the "church" sound.
  • francis
    Posts: 11,279
    it has become the "church" sound.
    Not in our church! We have 25 straight tone choralists.
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 12,060
    Francis, they wouldn't dare wobble around you. You probably already have the anathemas printed and just need to fill names in the blanks.

    Seriously, though, I have seen a few local church choirs where those wobbly older ladies are all they have in their choirs.
    Thanked by 1francis
  • CatholicZ09
    Posts: 342
    Whenever I hear a vibrato like that, it makes me picture someone tickling the singer as they’re singing because that’s what it sounds like to me…lol.
  • francis
    Posts: 11,279
    No anathamas from me! I’m just trying to get to heaven and I just want as many souls as possible to go too!

    Seriously, though, I have seen a few local church choirs where those wobbly older ladies are all they have in their choirs.
    those choirs are closing down left and right.
    Thanked by 1CharlesW
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 12,060
    I played for a funeral where a music director at a local Presbyterian church sang a solo. He asked if Catholics were having the same difficulty as his church was in attracting singers, especially young singers. I told him that yes, we were. It seems to be nearly everywhere these days. Everyone is overscheduled and has too many competing interests. The really good choirs in my area tend to have a core of paid singers.
  • francis
    Posts: 11,279
    We are entirely made up of parishioners. No ringers.
  • Cmanfro
    Posts: 26
    Does anyone have any advice or exercises to coach choristers to sing with a ‘straight tone’?
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