Yodel Lesson

This blog entry includes a video clip of my yodeling lesson with Marie Theres von Gunten. Our interpreter was her niece, Monika Huber-Felder. Marie Theres is one of THE most famous yodelers and composers in Switzerland. How kind of her to take a couple of hours to work with me!

The yodeling sensation was much more difficult that I thought it would be (and I was pretty sure it wouldn't be easy to begin with) As a classically trained singer and some one who specializes in choral blend, the vocal technique is the opposite of what I've done for 30 or more years. I've spent my whole singing life in "head voice." As a bel canto type singer, I've tried to blend my head voice as far down into the check register as I can. Now, Marie-Theres was asking me to not only highlight the chest voice, but to actively exploit it. I felt absolutely no vocal strain, - it was a natural and healthy way to sing - it was just different. I noticed that if I concentrated and slowly tried to apply what she was saying, that I could make that noticable shift in voice ranges. It certainly was something I would need to practice if I really wanted to pursue yodeling.

I knew from the beginning that Swiss yodeling was not a vocal trick and would not be full of gymnastics we often hear in cowboy or even Tyrolian yodeling. The melodies in this style of yodeling are lyrical and beautiful. They reflect the mountains from which they come and take advantage of the echos that would result from the valleys. The song Marie Theres helped me learn (?) was one of her own compositions called "Batruef-Jutz" about calling the animals back home after a day of grazing in the pastures near Mount Pilatus. She also gave me study sheet with the 5 basic types of "yodel patterns," sort of like an excerpt page for any other instrument (rudaments) Almost all yodels can be connected/traced to these 5 patterns.

A lot of yodeling is just singing - breath, articulation, vowel formation, posture, support, etc. All of these things translate, no matter what the language. Several times during the lesson (not in the clip) we had discussions (half in German and half in English) about similarities in vocal technique. No interpreter was needed (but it did help)

I was not able to really successfully yodel, but what was I to expect in just 2 hours? The experience was wonderful and now I know so much more than I did before. That's the point! Our meeting ended with hugs and the exchange of gifts. Marie-Theres gave me one of her song books and the CD that goes with it. This is a real treasure, and is better than any souvenir I could buy!

Speaking of singing, I'm off to conduct the ICDA Children's Choir at the summer conference in Indianapolis for the next few days. Check back if you're still interested. I have videos and more photos to post of the Jodel Festival closing ceremonies and fantastic parade.