VOCALS
VOCAL FRY | Sheri Gould
In recent years, the surge in the use of “vocal function primarily with very little or no training, So how is vocal fry actually damaging the
fry” seems to have reached a frenzied pitch are anxious to find ways of making their voice cords? Recently, while I was accompanying
(pun intended). In layman’s terms, vocal fry can interesting, unique, soulful, passionate, etc… an artist to an appointment with her ENT (Ear,
be described as “…the lowest register (tone) of but they often lack the skill and training to do Nose and Throat doctor), the doctor explained
your voice characterized by its deep, creaky, so. So, they rely primarily on gimmicks like this to my client that when you use vocal fry there
breathy sound”. one that are easy to pull off. (Whisper singing is is little to no breath support to vibrate the
another. This is the technique of adding air to cords. Thus, tension surrounds the vocal
Medical Daily had this to say: one’s tone). Sadly, many of these are harmful to cords. In addition to this, I personally see that
“Increasingly, women have been speaking the vocal cords, especially with long term use. the edges of the cords are overused. Check
with a creaky, guttural and exaggerated voice These techniques are often used so frequently out this 16 second YouTube video of vocal
known as vocal fry. You may recognize the that the singer themselves may have forgotten cords during regular phonation versus vocal
condition in celebrities like Britney Spears and or are unaware of how much they use it! It is a fry. I think it will be obvious to you how much
Kim Kardashian, but the linguistic fad is a verbal habit now for many, and, moreover, they have tension is not only surrounding the vocal folds
tic frying their voices.” often been told that this is healthy technique but also being applied to the folds themselves.
for the voice. (Disclaimer: if you have never seen a video of a
vocal stroboscopy you may taken aback by the
As a vocal coach, I have been concerned about
this trend.
I have become especially concerned since a sight of it! It is truly a look inside how the body
very popular and well-known vocal coach has functions. Go with caution!)
Medical Daily went on to say this: incorporated the use of vocal fry into a warm-
“According to Dr. Jim Daneiro, the head of the up and teaches that vocal fry is indeed good
Voice and Swallowing Clinic at the University and healing for the vocal cords. I’m afraid that
of Virginia, said those who talk often, loudly, this trend is not healthy at all and may very well
or aggressively are at higher risk of injury. be contributing to the rampant vocal damage
Coaches, teachers, and professors are at an we are currently seeing so much of.
increased risk of developing traumatic lesions
on their vocals {sic}, polyps, or a cyst.”
Last Sunday, as my pastor was preaching,
he quoted the old saying “If it’s new, it’s not
Here’s what some other authorities say on the true. If it’s true it’s not new.” Of course, he was
use of vocal fry in speech: referring to biblical truth, but I couldn’t help but
see the correlation with vocal technique. It’s
“Some authorities consider the use of vocal fry so tempting to believe that we have stumbled
in speech a dysphonia… That seems to be the onto some amazing new technique that will
prevailing opinion among speech pathologists enable us to do phenomenal things with our
today. Many are quick to point out that although voices. Especially when that something is
vocal fry is minimally a part of routine speaking easy and requires very little work or skill on our
patterns, the continued use of such a pattern part, but the truth is that the human body has
makes pathological.” not changed. We are dealing with the same
(McKinney, James (1994). The Diagnosis and physiology we have had for thousands of years.
Correction of Vocal Faults) Our bodies react to being overstimulated and
it
non-utilitarian
or
stressed the same way it always has, and for
Although “vocal fry” has been around for vocalists that often means some sort of vocal
millennia, the use of it in singing is a relatively damage.
new phenomenon. Today’s singers, who
60
February 2019
What is Vocal Fry?
Overall, my recommendation to you as with all
of my students, is to stay away from using vocal
fry.
God bless you as you seek to serve Him with
your singing!
Sheri Gould
Sheri is an internationally acclaimed vocal coach.
She’s been helping artists and worshipers find their
voice for over 40 years. For help and resources visit
her site.
www.SheriGould.com
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