Functional Unity

Question 1

Technique and Art (Quote)

Answer 1

The object of art is expression. The essence of expression is imagination. The control of imagination is form. The “medium” for all three is technique.

Question 2

Rationale for the Study of Physiology (Quote)

Answer 2

Of all musical instrument makers the voice builder is in greatest need for exhaustive and exact information about the instrument he makes, for the reason that the voice is of all musical instruments the most complicated in its method of tone production.

Question 3

Why do some teachers avoid or ignore Voice Science?

Answer 3

Many teachers refuse to recognize the need to study scientific material about the vocal mechanism, possibly because of feelings of inadequacy about their intellectual abilities, or even because of laziness.

Question 4

Anatomical and Physiological Terminology

Answer 4

General locational terms:
Anterior: toward the front
Posterior: toward the back
Transverse: horizontal
Superior: upper
Inferior: lower
External: toward the outer surface
Internal: toward the inner surface
Medial: at the mid-line
Process: a bony prominence or point

Question 5

Describe Bone?

Answer 5

The densest connective tissue in the body isbone,which is held together by ligaments or tendons and moved by muscles.

Question 6

Describe Ligament?

Answer 6

Aligamentis a sheet of tough, fibrous tissue connecting two or more bones, bones and cartilage, or two cartilages; most of the bones in the body are positioned by ligaments.

Question 7

Describe Tendons?

Answer 7

Tendonsare tough tissue bundles similar to ligaments, but with less ability to stretch. They are always associated with muscles and generally attach muscles to bone.

Question 8

Describe Cartilages

Answer 8

In contrast to bone,Cartilagehas a firm, gristly consistency and is capable of considerable elasticity. The skeletal framework of the larynx and the trachea is comprised entirely of cartilage.

Question 9

What are the behavioral characteristics of the three types of fiber found in muscle tissue?

Answer 9

Muscle tissue is made up of three kinds of fiber. Their behavioral characteristics are:

1. Slow in response and high and fatigue resistance.
2. Fast in response and low in fatigue resistance.
3. Fast in response and high and fatigue resistance.
   * The third type of fiber is found in the human larynx.

Question 10

What does Ingo Titze suggest about muscles?

Answer 10

Ingo Titzesuggests that “stretching muscles regularly has been shown to maintain ample blood flow and fiber concentration. Like any athlete, the singer must sing regularly to keep the muscles properly toned.

Question 11

List 9 facts about muscles?

Answer 11

1. Muscle tissue constitutes about 40% of the body’s weight
2. Muscles are used in all of our voluntary actions as well as in a substantial amount of involuntary movement.
3. In a relaxed state, a muscle is long and thin.
4. Becomes shorter and fatter when it works and contracts.
5. Most of the body’s muscles are voluntary (or striated), i.e. they have a mirror image on the opposite side of the body.
6. Each has an origin and insertion.
7. Origin refers to a muscle’s least moveable attachment and insertion to a more movable attachment. (Insertion is in the unit being acted upon.)
8. A striated muscle can only contract; it cannot stretch itself. It can pull, but it cannot push.
9. No striated muscle, therefore, works alone. It is opposed in its action by one or more muscles called antagonist(s).

Question 12

List 4 examples of important muscular antagonists which behave in the above manner are:

Answer 12

1. Diaphragm vs. abdominals
2. Crico-thyroid vs. thyro-arytenoid (vocalis)
3. Lateral crico-arytenoid vs. posterior crico-arytenoid
4. External strap muscle (extrinsic laryngeal musculature) (Depressors Vs Elevators)

Question 13

Define Isometric Contraction

Answer 13

In this type of action, the tension of a muscle increases or decreases without changing its basic shape (its length or thickness).

Question 14

What is the efficiency of a muscle measured by?

Answer 14

The efficiency of a muscle is measured by its mobility, its speed of action and its balance with other muscles, not by the mass of its strength.

Question 15

What are the four major parts of functional unit?

Answer 15

1. Lungs (air or force)
2. Larynx (vibrator)
3. Resonance cavities (selective sound filter)
4. Aperture (mouth or emission linkage)