Physiology of the Voice

Question 1

Where does the voice originate from in the body?

Answer 1

Larynx/Voice Box

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21872-larynx

Question 2

Which parts of the body does the voice come out of?

Answer 2

Mouth and Nose

Question 3

What is the ‘Attractor State’?

Answer 3

Your default setting that you are comfortable or familiar with; influenced by upbringing, family and friends, accents, previous training and physiology.

Question 4

What is ‘Effort’ ?

Answer 4

The driving force behind voice production; the degree to which muscles are working measured in attractor state effort numbers 1-10.

Question 5

What is the correct posture?

Answer 5

Full symmetry and good postural alignment with released abdominal tension.

https://completesingers.com/technique/posture-in-singing/

Question 6

Explain breathing in relation to singing.

Answer 6

Breath powers the voice; you only need to inhale the amount of air required to sing the next phrase.

Question 7

Vocal Folds

Answer 7

Two sets inside the larynx: False and True.

https://johnhenny.com/how-the-vocal-cords-work-for-singing/#:~:text=Since%20the%20folds%20are%20attached,in%20tension%2C%20raising%20the%20pitch.

Question 8

False Vocal Folds

Answer 8

Located above the True Vocal Folds. They close to protect airways preventing any foreign bodies entering the lungs or when lifting heavy objects, acting as a pressure valve. Can be located by grunting silently.

Question 9

Describe the False Vocal Fold positions.

Answer 9

Mid - Position during breathing and comfortable speaking/singing.
Constriction - Move inward towards their closed position, which affects the breath flow and vibrations of the True Vocal Folds, eventually damaging the voice (Rock/Pop - raspy sound).
Retraction - Move outwards to a widely opened position, recommended for singing.

Question 10

Exercises to access FVF Constriction

Answer 10

1. Sit in a seat and try to lift yourself up.
2. Stand up and stretch arms above head.
3. Grunt as though lifting heavy object.
4. Imitate sound of Gollum.

Question 11

Triggers of FVF Constriction

Answer 11

1. Running out of breath.
2. Stage fright/nerves.
3. Taking in too much breath, gripping abdominal muscles.
4. Singing high or low notes, quiet singing, anything out of attractor state.

Question 12

Exercises to access FVF Retraction.

Answer 12

1.Laugh hard and loud, feeling openness inside larynx.
2. Repeat exercises silently, locating sensation.
3. Place thumbs in ears and breath in and out noisily, then silently.
4. Try listening hard to a noise in the distance.
5. Compare feeling of constriction and retraction with and without tone.

Question 13

True Vocal Folds

Answer 13

Multi-layered structures of tissues, muscle and ligament located inside larynx under False Vocal Folds. They come together vibrating hundreds of times to make a sound. The breath travels from the lungs through the windpipe to the larynx, which helps to pull the TVFs together to make sound.

Question 14

Describe the True Vocal Folds Conditions.

Answer 14

Thick - Loud ‘ee’ TVF’s are thick and sound loud.
Thin - Quiet ‘ee’ TVF’s are thin and stretched and sound is soft.
Stiff - Thumb on bottom lip and blow (blowing on a bottle) TVF’s are stiff and stretched with not a lot of of contact at the back of the folds resulting in breathy sound.
Slack - Sound is creaky door, TVF’s relaxed resulting in pitch less croaky sound (e.g. ‘Oh baby baby’ - Britney).

Question 15

Difference between Onset and Offset

Answer 15

Onset - The beginning of a sound.
Offset - The end of a sound.

Question 16

Glottal Onset

Answer 16

‘Uh-Oh’ - Breath stops initially as folds temporarily close, sound before breath, there is an edge to the sound.

Question 17

Aspirate Gradual

Answer 17

‘Hheee’ - Breath moves out gradually before sound, don’t allow vocal folds to pop together, there is a breathiness to the sound.

Question 18

Aspirate Abrupt

Answer 18

‘Hey’ - The breath moves out initially and then folds come together abruptly, there is a pop to the sound.

Question 19

Smooth Onset

Answer 19

‘You’ - TVF’s movement and breath occurs at the same time, there is an ease to the sound.

Question 20

Thyroid

Answer 20

Situated at top of larynx and the front section is often referred to as Adam’s Apple. Acts as a shield for TVF’s.

Question 21

Thyroid Positions

Answer 21

Vertical - Position during normal speech.
Tilting - Tilts forward stretching the attached TVF’s, this is the basic difference between speaking and singing. It assists accessing high notes, producing thin folds, can sweeten the sound and is essential for achieving vibrato. Can be accessed by whimpering like a puppy.

Question 22

Cricoid

Answer 22

Position under the thyroid at the base of the larynx. It makes thick TVF’s thicker; allowing us to shout in singing ‘belt’.

Question 23

Cricoid Positions

Answer 23

Vertical - Position during quiet breathing and speaking.
Tilting - Position during shouting and belting. Can be accessed by placing fingers in cricoid and preparing to shout loudly.

Question 24

Larynx

Answer 24

Situated at top of trachea in the throat. Primary functions are to close and protect the airways/lungs and to open and close enabling respiration. However, it is the source of sound where the TVF’s are housed and voice is generated.

Question 25

Larynx Positions

Answer 25

These can brighten and darken the sound (like adding treble or bass) as well as helping access high/low notes.

Mid - Place finger on Adam’s apple and breathe quietly.
Low - Place finger on Adam’s apple and say ‘HO HO HO’ like Father Christmas.
High - Place finger on Adam’s apple and squeak like a mouse.

Question 26

Sirening

Answer 26

Create sound ‘ng’ with open mouth, with tongue high. TVF’s thin, FVF’s are retracted and thyroid is tilted. Soft palette is low - sound is nasal. Enables warm-up and access of higher notes.

Question 27

Mirening

Answer 27

Similar to sirening, however as you say ‘ng’ mouth the words of the song clearly, enabling muscle memory for tongue and jaw muscles.

Question 28

Soft Palate

Answer 28

The roof of the mouth behind the hard (bony) palate. Functions like a door opening and closing the back entrances of the mouth and nose. Although it is a very muscular structure it can be hard to feel as it has few nerve endings.

Question 29

Exercises to locate soft palate

Answer 29

1. Roll tongue on roof of mouth across front section and further back (soft palate).
2. Take small sip of water and hold it whilst breathing, notice soft palate is holding water in your mouth.
3. Blow air down nose while mouth is closed.

Question 30

Soft palate conditions

Answer 30

Low - Low and in contact with back of tongue, sound can only come through nose (nasal).
Mid - Slightly lifted away from tongue, not completely high, sound can come out through nose and mouth (nasalised).
High - Lifted up completely, the sound can only come out of the mouth (oral).

Question 31

Soft palate exercises

Answer 31

Low & Mid - Speak then sing vowels in mid soft palate position using nose pinching test. Move soft palate from low (ng) to mid on all vowels.
High - Speak then sing all vowels in high soft palate position, using nose pinching test. Move soft palate from low (ng) to high abruptly on all vowels ‘hinGEE’

Question 32

Tongue location

Answer 32

Root of tongue is connected to the hyoid bone, which the larynx is also attached to. The back of the tongue rests on the larynx, therefore it’s position impacts laryngeal mobility.

Question 33

Tongue exercises for awareness

Answer 33

1. Say all vowels - what happens to root of tongue?
2. Repeat vowels without moving lips.
3. Repeat vowels without moving tongue.

Question 34

Tongue Conditions

Answer 34

Low - Flat and low as if you’ve eaten hot potatoes (never recommended - limits larynx movement and affects thyroid tilt and impacts clarity of diction).
High - In between bottom and top teeth with sides touching underside of top molars, keeping back of tongue high.
Mid - Position it occupies in normal speech - neutral (ideal position).

Question 35

Exercises to tire tongue (reduce tension)

Answer 35

1. Tongue circles (roll tongue around teeth -repeat the other way).
2. Stick tongue out.

Question 36

Head/Neck anchoring

Answer 36

Provides stability and consistency in singing - real support for voice. Provides stable structure outside larynx allowing smaller muscles that control TVF’s not to work so hard.
Adds intensity (not volume) to both soft and loud singing and help smooth over breaks in voice.

Question 37

Rules for head and neck anchoring

Answer 37

1. Good Posture
2. FVF retraction for safety
3. Release abdominal muscles for safety

Question 38

Exercises for awareness of anchoring

Answer 38

Write name without allowing wrist to rest on surface. Notice difference to writing when arm is stabilised.

Question 39

Exercises for accessing head and neck anchoring.

Answer 39

Nostrils - flare as far as possible trying to touch ears with nostrils.
Muscles wither side of neck (SCM’s) - Place hands either side of neck then shiver, sneeze, sniff, act shocked.
Soft Palate - Bite into imaginary toffee apple.
Nape of Neck - Feel muscles in cervical spine engage and prepare to cheer silently.

Question 40

Torso Anchoring

Answer 40

Puts breaks on exhalation and slows it down.

Should be felt in 3 places - DO NOT close distance between shoulder blades.
- Latissimus Dorsi (below shoulder blades)
- Pectoralis Major (chest)
- Quadratus Lumborum (small of back).

Question 41

Exercises for awareness of torso anchoring

Answer 41

Stand relaxed and sing powerful section of song. Repeat this taking time on posture of great opera singer.

Question 42

Exercises for accessing torso anchoring

Answer 42

1. Sit on chair try and pull yourself upwards.
2. Pretend to have an orange under armpits and squeeze.
3. Press and push palms with partner.

Question 43

Exercises for anchoring

Answer 43

1. Sing ‘ee’ alternating between relaxed and anchored conditions.
2. Sing on thin and thick TVF’s and then using anchoring across range.

Question 44

Twanger

Answer 44

Ring of muscle above vocal folds (Aryepiglottic Sphincter - AES).
Muscle narrows to protect airways, creating a bright piercing sound doubling volume.
Conditions - narrow and wide with degrees in between.

Question 45

Exercises to access narrow twanger

Answer 45

1. Cackle like a witch.
2. Quack like a duck.
3. Make sound of taunting school child (horrid henry).

Question 46

Relaxation Manoeuvres

Answer 46

1. Breathe - releases tension in vocal folds.
2. Massage face/lips -releases facial tension.
3. Walk briskly - releases tension in the breathing muscles.
4. Tongue circles - releases tongue tension .
5. Chew - release jaw tension.
6. Make short, soft vowels - releases tension when voicing.
7. Speak normally - releases tension in speech.
8. Sirening - releases tension when singing.
9. Add music/ monologue - releases tension when performing complex vocal tasks.

Question 47

Tongue Function

Answer 47

Primary function is chewing and swallowing. Shapes vowels and tip of tongue plays a major role in articulation and diction. When referring to tongue positions in singing, it focuses on back of tongue.