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VOCAL
TONING
Toning is very old and basic to many traditional cultures. Much of religious chant involves toning.
It consists of non-verbal conscious elongation of sounds, using the breath and voice, similar to sighing, moaning, chanting
yawning and humming. It is usually started with a vowel sound such as AA, AH, EEE, II (Aye), OH OH, OOO (EWE). This is
called the "seed sound" But the sound changes quickly and takes on a form of its own. It is much easier to do
than to explain. It has applications for meditation, healing, musical performance, personal transformation and spiritual
journeys.
Toning is more "free form" than singing. You don't have to be on key. Try and have
fun with it. Any syllable or sound is OK. There is no "right" note. In a group, toners don't have to sing the
same note or syllable at the same time. There is no "right" note. Any notes or sounds are OK - low or high . “All
God's Critter's Got a Place in the Choir”. Toning requires no musical experience or equipment and can be done by anyone.
Topics include Group Intention, Chakra toning, Overtoning, Continuous Circular Toning, Mantras, Toning for
healing, and Toning with Movement.
Chakra
Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning wheel or vortex.
Toning the Chakras "tunes up" your body, mind, emotions and spirit by using the power of your own voice. There
are seven chakras which are located at points along the spinal column.
1 Root-------------Uh
2 Pelvis-----------OO
3 Solar Plexus---OH
4 Heart------------AH
5 Throat-----------AYE
6 3rd eye----------EEE
7
Crown------------MMMM
There are several different chakra systems. Although there are some differences
what is notable is that they are all very similar. The lower chakra's have deep sounds and the higher chakras sounds higher
in pitch.
Intention
When people tone, there is usually an "Intention". An intention
is our expectation of what we will "get out of" the session. It may be relaxation, a feeling of peace or stillness;
or it could be to have more energy, to heal a wounded part of our body or psyche. We might want to ask questions and get
answers from a deep inner part of ourselves.
We all have our individual intentions. We usually also
have a group intention. The intention may be self love, for ourselves and our own voices. That we accept our voices by themselves
and also the way they blend together. Their blending together is a reflection of the wonderful ways we blend together, both
in harmony and dissonance. We should not be afraid to either blend in or to let our voice go in its own separate direction.
Overtoning
"Overtoning" refers to a process of creating more than one vocal sound at
the same time and is similar to chanting techniques found in Tibet and Mongolia. Besides the mouth, sound can come or resonate
from the nose, the sinuses, the top of the head, torso and many other parts of the body. You can also direct sound to different
parts of the body to relax or energize physical or emotional trauma and feelings.
One of the easiest
ways to create overtones is with the sound "OM” it is pronounced "ah oh mm". It is considered in India
to be the universal sound because it starts in the back of the mouth and moves towards the front ending with the lips closed
and vibrating. This it covers all possible positions of the mouth.
Toning for Healing
Using
combinations of some of the above principles it is very easy to use toning to heal and nourish the body, mind and spirit.
Toning is oxygenating and invigorating.
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