Dear Rick and Vocalisters:
Yes, there is such a think as a tenor break. In fact, tenors break
more often than any other voice type. It usually appears around
F4-A4. It is caused by the tendency of tenors to reduce sub-glottal
pressure and open (abbduct) the vocal folds at the very moment when
the vocal folds should remain closed (adducted) and the sub-glottal
breath pressure used on notes below this point should be maintained
or slightly increased in this pitch area. In the terms of many voice
teachers, increased breath support is needed.
Why do tenors tend to slightly open the vocal folds with the
subsequent reduction of breath pressure on these pitches.? Because
they find it is easier to alter the required conformation of the
vocal folds as one transcends from chest voice into head voice. If
the folds have reduced medial tension it is easier to modify vocal
fold thickness because the open quotient of the vocal fold operation
is increased and the folds can alter their conformation during this
increased open phase. However, the tenor must learn to make these
alterations earlier in the scale climb before excessive medial
tension must develop to maintain the extended use of the chest voice
beyond its best limits. Cracking is always in indication of
inadequate or incorrect vocal technique or it occurs because the
voice is extremely tired.
--
Lloyd W. Hanson
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