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SINGING COURSES AND VOICE TRAINING, BRISTOL, UK
A bit of theory
Creation of the voice - phonation
Every time we speak or sing, the pair of vocal chords automatically close the airway like tiny sliding doors, but they are soft so air pressure from the lungs opens a little cranny between them and pushes breath through, making their edges vibrate. This produces a quiet rustling sound which becomes our voice by resonating mainly in the neck, mouth and head.
The diagram below shows a cross section of the neck, in which we can see the vocal chords (A) open during breathing and (B) closed during phonation (singing or speaking). The Hyoid bone (3) holds the front of the entrance of the larynx in place, while the Arytenoid and Corniculate cartilages make the vocal chords close the Glottis and block the breath.
The vocal chords are fixed between the back of the Adam’s Apple (Thyroid cartilage) and the Arytenoid cartilages which move like wings on hinges to close the vocal chords together, and also flex them to provide higher pitched speech or singing.
Vocal chords act similarly to guitar strings. Their length in the relaxed position dictates they type of voice you have. The longer they are, the lower the vocal range.
Breath is the engine of the voice
The quality of the timbre and volume also depend on the intensity of the breath which carries the voice out of body. Our breath can get huge power from the abdominal muscles, the same way as new born babies cry. We still have this automatic reflex which is why we cough or sneeze so loudly.
The range
The majority of men and women sing much lower than they need to. They delude themselves that they have a lower voice instead of learning the proper natural technique. We cannot change or choose our range as we cannot change the length of our relaxed vocal chords, but we can learn how to use the voice properly to fulfil our potential, by using the whole range - from the lowest to the highest tone - and to discover the beautiful voice that nature gave us.
Names of ranges/types of voices
Names for the different types of voices are listed below. It is totally wrong to associate them with opera or classical music. They originated in an age when labels for genres such as pop, hip-hop or heavy metal did not exist. Everybody on the planet falls into one of the categories below, anyone with a good trained ear can tell which one just by hearing them speak.
Soprano - highest female voice Tenor - highest (natural) male voice
Alto - lower female voice Baritone - lower male voice
Contra Alto - lowest female voice Bass—baritone - higher bass male voice
Bass - lowest male voice
Special vocal techniques
Falsetto - A special voice technique which gives both genders the ability to sing above their natural range. ‘False folds’ located in the larynx above the vocal chords block the breath, making them vibrate.
Counter tenor - This technique involves controlled narrowing of the larynx to create the highest male voice type, giving men the ability to sing castrato parts. Often confused with ‘falsetto’.
Yodelling - Smoothly switching between the natural voice and falsetto.
The sinuses are cavities in the face. By focusing on them we add the highest overtones into the timbre of the voice. This makes it easy to sing the highest tones, and to project the voice when singing or speaking. We should not confuse correct sinuses work with the common problem of a nasal voice.
The larynx is responsible for the creation of our voice and also protects the lungs when we swallow. It hangs just behind the tongue from muscles on the Hyoid bone. It is clearly visible (particularly on men) as an Adams’s Apple in front of the neck.
The Epiglottis provides a hatch which covers the top of the larynx each time we swallow to stop us from breathing in food or drink.
The Thyroid holds the shape of the larynx and is the only cartilage we can see.
The Cricoid looks like a signet ring facing backwards. It sits at the top of the Trachea, encircled by the Thyroid cartilage (shaped like a horseshoe). The Corniculate cartilages sit on top of the Artytenoid cartilages, which in turn sit on the head of the signet ring.
The Arytenoid and Corniculate turn on ‘hinges’ to open and close the vocal chords which creates the voice, and also flex the vocal chords, enabling us change the pitch of our speech or singing.
What is a ‘good voice’?
A good voice is one which people really love. It can express happiness, sorrow, pain and fear on a stage, or bring excitement and cogency to a business presentation. It can easily fill a massive venue and express what you want without struggling. People sit up and listen to a good voice, whether it is being used to sing heavy metal, rap, opera, act Shakespeare, present a boring product or even dictate grammar. Its beauty and power should give us a warm feeling and fill us with pleasure. A good voice makes people jealous!
Using the technique you were born with
When a baby is born, the whole body - including the voice - works perfectly because it is driven by natural reflexes. As we grow up we replace these subconscious skills with bad habits. This subconscious laziness and confusion leads to tension in the larynx which is incompatible with good vocal projection. Some lucky people keep the beautiful voice they were born with and need no training, but the rest of us need to understand how our voice works.
It is very easy to teach children to sing. They very often have few bad habits to be removed, and so quickly reveal the beautiful freedom of their voice.
Imperfect voice technique and voice disorders
When I ask somebody with a bad voice what went wrong, they often tell me that they are using the normal voice they grew up with. People often think there is nothing they can do, or they simply don’t care. The sad truth is that a broken voice can become worse and worse. The boundary between imperfect voice technique and a voice disorder is very blurry.
You should see your GP after two weeks if your voice sounds abnormal when you speak or sing.
So called ‘Singing’ and ‘speaking’ voice
There is not, and must never be, any difference in vocal approach between singing and speaking. Any deviation from the natural speaking position of the neck should be called a voice disorder. Poor singers switch into a so called "singing’ voice which is technically very wrong. They make use of tension, which must be avoided at all cost.
Nobody said that you are ill
Usually voice disorders and technical imperfections are the reasons behind vocal problems or limitations, and these can be treated very easily using simple exercises with an experienced voice coach. However, there may be more serious problems with your throat, such as a polyps, nodule or even a tumour. Only a doctor would be able to see these by looking inside the throat, a voice coach can only guess by listening. It is always best to see a specialist if you are unsure.
Loosing bad habits
The larynx has a very poor nerve network so we are unable to drive it consciously. All we can do is re-educate our brain to send the correct instructions to the voice box, and make it our second nature. We use special exercises to get rid of bad habits so the voice can work freely.
SPEECH VOICE TRAINING
It is not true that because you have grown up with a weak voice you will not be able to improve it.
SINGING LESSONS
Please go to www.carlmarche.com for more information about my singing tuition
THERAPEUTIC HELP WITH VOICE PROBLEMS
I work therapeutically to help people who are suffering hoarseness, pain, tiredness or loss of voice. Please don't hesitate to be in touch maybe for a free advice only.
The content of this web pages should not be used as the only source of your information. I recommend that any individual with a voice problem continuous more than 2 weeks without improvement be seen by an otolaryngologist (ENT surgeon) for an examination. There may be a risk of future irreparable harm or life-threatening condition.
The most common reasons of voice disorders:
- Voice abuse - loud talking, shouting
- Singing with a poor technique
- Longer and/or louder speech with a poor technique
- Shouting in a club a concert or sport event
- Overuse of the voice during laryngitis
The first steps to treat a voice disorder:
- Rest voice, speak quietly
- Don't sing
- Don't whisper
- Sip water, don't let dry up your throat
- Avoid smoking, alcohol and caffeine
- Seek a professional voice coach
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