Dear Tayor and Vocalsiters:
About to go on a week vacation but really wanted to reply to your
last rich post. Good stuff!
I am not always sure what is meant by the vocalis muscle when, in the
same paragraph the thyroarytenoid muscles are also mentioned. In
some texts a major distinction is made between these two as separate
muscle systems and in other texts the vocalis muscle is an inclusive
term that means both the thyrovocalis and the thyromuscularis and,
sometimes, others. Some clarity here would help.
The thickening of the muscle systems of the vocal folds or rounding
as it is described in your post, clearly create a more complex form
of oscillation which, in turn, provides the richness of the sound
spectrum obtained in this voice configuration which we call chest
voice. And the release of this muscle activity and the concurrent
reliance on the oscillation of primarily the vocal ligament and
mucosal membrane creates the oscillation pattern associated with high
voice or head voice. Both configurations need to be exercised if for
no other reason than to develop the necessary coordination skills
that will make both vocal ranges readily available to the singers.
Concentrated practice is also necessary to achieve the coordination
that must occur as the voice changes from active vocalis involvement
to active vocal ligament involvement (change from the heavy mechanism
to the light mechanism through the passaggio). Although strength
development is a logical and desired result of these exercises it is
my belief that the primary success is achieved through improved
coordination skills rather than strength per se.
A balance of low and high voice work is necessary. But most young
women today do not have much experience with their high voice; it is
never used in the music that surrounds us. And most men have little
experience with their low voices for the same reason. So the work
must be tailored to the needs of the singer.
--
Lloyd W. Hanson, DMA
Professor of Voice, Pedagogy
School of Performing Arts
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
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