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JAMES MENY: Okay. So now we're going to address larynx and larynx position. You might hear
this from some voice teachers, you might not from others. We're not trying to sing on a
higher larynx. We're not trying to sing on a low larynx. What I advocate is a neutral
larynx. It's the same voice that I'm actually speaking on. Because it allows for the fluctuation
so that I can actually have voice inflection and I don't sound monotone when I speak. It
moves up and down as I finish sentences or I want to emphasize words. If it's pressed
down the whole time, then it sounds really stupid. And I don't hear a lot of opera singers
singing in this voice, where it's pressed down all the time. The problem is, is that
if you had to press it down any lower, you couldn't, 'cause it's already pressed all
the way down. Or if it's lifted as high as it can be, you get this sound. And then you
can't go any higher without sounding screechy. So what I want is a natural, easy sound. Remember,
the least amount of baggage as possible when you actually phonate or sing make it as natural
as possible for you. Why carry on technique? Technique is only needed when you get in trouble.
You don't want to be thinking about your technique while you're on a stage or in a play or on
a film shoot or something like that. You want to be thinking about hitting your spot or
why is that girl looking at me or what's wrong with this light over here or, and think of
anything else but the singing. You got to let that out of your way. That's baggage.