Duangjai Technique: Creative Research for Professional Singing-Technique Enhancement

Abstract

This creative research aims to enhance the performing capacity of students majoring in Vocal Performance within the Western Music Programme, Department of Music, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University, as well as to create vocal innovations.  The research comprises descriptions of Duangjai Technique and Integrated Vocal Exercise for both basic and advanced levels. The description of Duangjai Technique includes the essence of singing, with an emphasis on the key organs for voice productions, because singers use their bodies as instrument to create sounds.  As Western classical singing standards focus on a beautiful, full-bodied voice with the ability to project, the researcher creates a singing technique appropriate for Thai singers’ anatomy.  To be precise, concise, and memorable, the researcher has arranged the description of Duangjai Technique into six parts, namely, “open, release, embouchure, protrude, drop, and place.” The integrated vocal exercises for Duangjai Technique comprise 10 basic exercises and 12 advanced exercises. Duangjai Technique along with the integrated vocal exercises are shown to be effective.  The students show improvement in vocal ability while retaining their unique natural voice.