VOCALS
15 VOCAL TERMS : DEFINED ( PART 1 ) | Sheri Gould
As a vocalist in today ’ s world , there are often terms thrown around that tend to have ambiguous meanings ( at best ). This can be confusing to a newer vocalist and even a more experienced one as terms come to have “ new ” definitions . In this article series , I ’ m going to try and shed some light on commonly ( or historically ) used terms and how they are used ( or misused ) today . It is my hope that shedding light on these will help to dispel some myths and misunderstandings about the human voice . Here is a list of the terms I ’ ll be discussing :
1 . Resonance 9 . Intonation 2 . Larynx
10 . Falsetto 3 . Pharynx 11 . Female Break 4 . Soft Palate 12 . Mask 5 . Breath Support 13 . Mixed Voice 6 . Breath Control 14 . Head Voice 7 . Glottal Stop 15 . Chest Voice 8 . Register
You are likely familiar with many of these terms but may or my not be aware of how the use of these terms have changed over the years , often taking on new meanings and implications . I believe that communication is essential and to effectively communicate , we need to start from a basis of common understanding . So here we go ….
RESONANCE I chose to place resonance first on our list because it is so relevant to a singer and because it will come up again and again as the terms above are defined and explained . A true definition of resonance often contains a lot of scientific references to many aspects of resonance that go far beyond the scope of our use as singers . The way I typically describe resonance to singers is this : the way the vibrations bounce around in the specific area ( s ) where we choose to put them . Hardly scientific , but very applicable to the way we sing or speak . How / where a singer chooses ( or defaults ) to resonate will define the singer ’ s tone quality . Many inexperienced or untrained singers don ’ t realize the many ways that tone quality ( in large part : resonance ) can be affected . Many of the resonators we have as singers are unchangeable and help to define our own unique sound , but others can be manipulated to affect the voice . It ’ s important to understand the difference between the two and how to make the most of what is available to you .
LARYNX (/’ leriNGks /) 1 . the hollow muscular organ forming an air passage to the lungs and holding the vocal cords in humans and other mammals ; the voice box .
Please note the correct pronunciation . Many people misspeak this word by pronouncing it LARnyx . The main role ( s ) of the larynx is to protect the lower airways , facilitate respiration , and play a key role in phonation .
From this we can see that the larynx plays a huge role in the singer ’ s life and yet , so many singers have little to no understanding of how the larynx functions during singing and how we can position the larynx in a way that facilitates relaxation , better tone and overall vocal cord function . Learning how to relax the throat by relaxing the muscles surrounding the larynx and keeping the larynx free and in a lower position can help a singer to achieve their goals and avoid vocal damage .
PHARYNX ( feh · ruhngks ) 1 . The pharynx , commonly called the throat , is the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity , and above the esophagus and trachea ( the tubes going down to the stomach and the lungs ). It contains three sections : the nasopharynx , oropharynx and laryngopharynx .
The pharynx is another part of our anatomy that plays heavily in the role of a singer . Whether we realize it or not , when we sing , we are utilizing different areas of the body . Sometimes this is in a passive role , as in during resonance and sometimes it is in a more active role , as during breathing . The pharynx can be another key to help a singer “ relax ” by allowing the throat muscles to resist tensing . Additionally , singers can access and affect different areas of resonance by opening , closing or restricting access to the various parts of the pharynx . When understood and used correctly , this can help to create the sound and style a singer is looking for .
SOFT PALATE 1 . The soft palate is the muscular part at the back of the roof of the mouth . It sits behind the hard palate , which is the bony part of the roof of the mouth . The palates play important roles in swallowing , breathing , and speech . ( For a more in depth look at the soft palate and role it plays for a singer ,
read my last article ).
The use of the soft palate in singing is often done “ unconsciously ”. We tend to either raise , or keep neutral , its position depending on either how we have been trained , how we want to sound , or simply by default . The raising of the soft palate gives greater access to both the nasopharynx , as well as the oropharynx enabling the singer to affect the tone quality by changing the shape and area of resonance . The biggest problem I see in singers is that they don ’ t seem to recognize their control-or lack of-the soft palate and therefore they often create a sound that they didn ’ t choose and perhaps don ’ t prefer . An important aspect of maturity in a singer is the ability to control areas of resonance , especially when the resonator is shapable as in the case of the soft palate .
Join me next month as I continue on with our journey to understanding more about the voice through clear definitions .
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