Ep.167 Understanding Nasality and Perception in the Singing Voice with Dr Nicholas Perna

Singing Teachers Talk

Alexa is joined by Dr Nicholas Perna to talk about nasality. They discuss and unravel the mysteries of the nose’s role in vocal production. From debunking myths about nasal resonance to exploring the benefits of nasal airflow, Dr Perna’s insights will challenge your assumptions and expand your understanding of vocal technique. Whether you’re a singing teacher or a curious vocalist, this episode offers a fresh perspective on an often misunderstood aspect of voice production.
KEY MOMENT

"The easiest observation you can obviously make, just to know whether there's anything happening or not, is to simply sustain a tone, pinch your nose shut, and see if, you notice any difference.”

EPISODE RESOURCES

• Voice Study Centre
• (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep.151 How to Sing with Twang with Kerrie Obert
• (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep. Dr Matt Edwards
• (Podcast) Singing Teachers Talk: Ep. Aaron Johnson
• Journal of Singing: Click Here
• (JoS) Nasality Deconstructed by Nicholas Perna: Click Here
• Heidi Moss:
• Spectrum Effects of VPO in Singing by Gill, Lee, La, Sundberg: Click Here
• Effects of Nasalance on the Acoustics of the Tenor Passaggio and Head Voice by Nicholas Perna
• Celine Dion: An NBC News Special with Hoda Kotb (Full Interview): com/watch?v=ncwhU70I3T4
• The work of Christian Herbst: Click Here
• University of Colorado Boulder: Click Here
• The work of Berton Coffin: Click Here

ABOUT THE GUEST
Dr Perna is Associate Professor and Director of Vocal Pedagogy at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He has publications in the Journal of Singing, Journal of Voice and VOICEPrints. A Presser Music Foundation awardee, he has presented research on four continents at events such as the Voice Foundation’s Symposium, ICVT, NATS National Conference, and Physiology and Acoustics of Singing (PAS). Perna is currently Vice President for Outreach for the National Association of Teachers of Singing and is the creator and co-host of the VocalFri Podcast. Perna holds graduate degrees from the University of Miami & the University of Houston. In 2024 Perna began his tenure as Executive Director of Opera Mississippi. Previous faculty positions include Mississippi College, West Virginia University, and he has been a voice research associate at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Guest Website: nicholasperna.com

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