When new students come in for voice lessons at my Sing Like a Star Studios, they sometimes wonder where their voice actually comes from- where the sounds that they hear as singing are actually produced.
What we refer to as “the voice” starts as air coming up from the lungs through the trachea, or windpipe. This air flows through, and is resisted by, the vocal cords or folds, located in the larynx. The larynx is the “voice box”- the little bump that you can see sticking out in the middle of your throat, otherwise known as the “Adam’s Apple”. Once the sound waves pass through the vocal cords, they are amplified and reinforced in the chambers of the pharynx, or vocal tract which is affected by the positioning of the tongue.
The relaxed position of the larynx is vitally important to good singing tone; this is determined largely by whether or not there is incorrect muscular engagement happing during vocalization. For the larynx to function freely, the “interfering” or incorrect muscles have to stop getting in the way. The muscles that raise and lower the larynx are called the “strap” muscles. The strap muscles suspend the larynx in the neck, attaching to the hyoid bone above the larynx, and the sternum below the larynx. When the larynx is in the position it assumes at rest (or below that) the voice functions with the greatest degree of freedom and health,
If the interfering muscles are allowed to engage, the result can often be a hiked or high larynx. This can happen when the singer is “muscling” to push the chest voice too high, or it can be the result of singing wide or spread vowels. The other incorrect laryngeal position is a shoved down position, often attempted as a way to make the vocal sound bigger or more operatic. Occasionally you hear this sound combined with a “Kermit the Frog” or “Dudley Do-Right” kind of “kunurdle”, created by tongue pressure and tensing the digastric strap or mylohyoid muscles under the chin. Often the singer is unaware that that are creating this sound. This area should always remain relaxed and flexible during singing.
The key to good vocal production is a relaxed larynx that can respond to the demands of pitch making without being hiked up or pushed down, but is allowed to float freely with no interference from interfering muscle groups. A larynx that is too high creates a shallow, tinny sound, while a larynx that is muscularly pressed down sounds like bad opera. A relaxed larynx results in a natural and yet healthy vocal sound that can be used in any musical style.
I wish you all the best as you reach for your dreams! Tricia Grey, MM
At Sing Like a Star Studios you can learn the vocal technique of the stars. If you don’t live near Atlanta, you can take voice lessons with Skype. Please visit our website at www.singlikeastar.com and click on the GET STARTED tab to register for a professional vocal evaluation and consultation.
