Vocology

Question 1

What is Vocology?

Answer 1

The science and practice of voice habilitation (and rehabilitation if necessary)

Question 2

Who are the clients?

Answer 2

Professional Vocalists

Question 3

Define Professional Vocalist -

Answer 3

• people who rely on their voice as a tool of the trade.
• people who depend on their voice, to the point that they can’t do the job without it. They would have to seek alternate employment without the use of their voice.
• Professional Vocalists make up 1/5 of the working population in developed countries. Significant number of people!
• e.g. of Professional Vocalists - teachers, (4.2% of US workforce), highest percent who are in rehab and seek treatment.
• Other jobs that rely on the voice - Telephone workers, reception, Counselors, Politician.
• Professional Vocalist - they are a quarter of the working population in the US. Higher percentage in the US, than in the other developed countries.

Question 4

What are the objectives of Vocology?

Answer 4

• find the ideal voice for the given anatomy of the individual (ease, balanced resonance, sustainable). Aesthetic preference may or may not line up with what is sustainable.
• Teach clients how to feel good when they are making vocal sounds (healing properties in vibration, that is why people moan when they are sick)
• Allow vocalists to achieve maximum control over their voice production. - different styles, acting choice, freedom of expression.
• maximize the longevity of vocal production.
• Provide reliable, cost effective tools of assessment of vocal disorders (Vocologists can’t diagnose - but need to know the difference between disfunction and abnormalities of the vocal folds, then refer to ENT).

Question 5

What are the difference between vocal athletes and other types of athletes and non professional voice users?

Answer 5

• No evidence that human body tissues are well designed for long exposure to vibration
• Humans do not engage in activities that involve vibrating and colliding body tissue at a rate of 20 to 1,000 times a second.
• Exceptions - incidental noises made when passing air or snoring and of course PHONATION!
• the vocal folds can endure 1000 vibratory cycles a second (in women).
• What makes a heavier voice possible - the ability to endure more focal fold closure/impact - has to do with the morphology of the vocal folds.
• Professional vocalists not only vocalize when socializing but are speaking for work all day - much higher voice dose than a non professional vocalist.

Question 6

Body Language of Vocal Fatigue

Answer 6

• Frequent licking of lips - sign of de-hydration, which is linked with dryness at vocal fold level
• Attempts to relieve tension in the face, neck and shoulders - because the mechanism is wearing out.
• Perspiration - the body sweats because of effort in tension
• Compromise in Posture (we tend to under breath) - Because the vocalist is speaking below expiratory respiration level. Then people often crunch over as a result of over driving/constricting from the abdomen.
• More frequent or unplanned taking of breaths, often hoarse/fatigued.
• Excessive Throat Clearing and Swallowing - to clear mucus (Swallowing - helps reset the voice and stretch the muscles that house the larynx)

Question 7

Signs of vocal fatigue in singers

Answer 7

• lack of ability to sustain long phrases (it could be lack of coordination too)
• Loss of Tone “Focus”
• Irregularity of Vibrato - major indicators especially with developed singers
• Loss of high notes (you need more air)
• Loss of Low Notes and Soft Notes (means that there is heightened muscular work for those vocal activities too)