1. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II – Phonation
College of Music
University of North Texas
June 9, 10 & 11, 2005

2. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II
What is voice?
25% have occupations with essential voice use (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1991)
14,000,000 sales
5,000,000 teachers
2,000,000 food servers
Attorneys, clergy, receptionists, etc.
Our voices define us. They are unique, one of a kind. Used for security purposes. We rely upon it in so many ways.
Here are some examples of voices we may know, and some we don’t that suggest how varied and interesting the voice can be.
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

3. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II – Phonation
What is voice?
25% have occupations with essential voice use (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1991)
4,000,000 public safety workers
How does it work?
What do I need to know to help develop vocal athletes?
Our voices define us. They are unique, one of a kind. Used for security purposes. We rely upon it in so many ways.
Here are some examples of voices we may know, and some we don’t that suggest how varied and interesting the voice can be.
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

4. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II – Phonation
The Vocal Tract
Trachea/Lungs
Larynx
Pharynx
Laryngopharynx
Oropharynx
Nasopharynx
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

5. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II – Phonation
The Vocal Tract
Oral Cavity
Nasal Cavity
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

6. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II - Phonation
The Larynx
Biological Function
Protects the airway
Swallowing
Coughing
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

7. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II - Phonation
The Larynx
Phonatory Function
Provides Acoustic Excitation for Voice
Source is like a ‘siren’, not a string
An aerodynamic/myoelastic oscillator
Like a lip buzz!
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

8. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II - Phonation
The Larynx
The Structure of the Larynx is:
Cartilaginous
Muscular
Multi-layered
Mainly hyaline cart. That is soft and pliable in youth and calcifies as we age.
Combination of slow and fast twitch muscles that give us speed and endurance.
The multi layered structure of the vocal folds has been the Rosetta Stone in understanding voice illness and care.
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

9. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II - Phonation
Laryngeal Framework
Cricoid Cartilage
Thyroid Cartilage
Arytenoid Cartilages (2)
Epiglottis
Hyoid Bone
Show the Blue Tree program here.
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

10. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II - Phonation
The Laryngeal Muscles
All muscles derive their name from the two laryngeal cartilages to which they attach.
Intrinsic
All control the length, tension or position of the vocal folds (vf)
All but 1 are paired
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

11. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II – Phonation
Intrinsic laryngeal muscles (cont.)
Tensors/Relaxors – elongate or shorten the vf
Abductors – ‘take away’ the vf, opening the glottis
Adductors – bring the vf together, closing the glottis
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

12. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II – Phonation
Intrinsic laryngeal muscles (cont.)
Cricothyroids: paired – the “Pitch” muscles
Thyroarytenoids: paired – the “Register” muscles
Posterior Cricoarytenoids – the “Breathing” muscles
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

13. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II – Phonation
Intrinsic Muscles: (cont.)
Lateral Cricoarytenoids – the “Squeeze” muscles
Interarytenoids – the “Whisper” muscles
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

14. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II – Phonation
Extrinsic Laryngeal Muscles
The position of the larynx in the neck has everything to do with the fundamental quality and function of the voice.
The ‘comfortably low’ laryngeal posture is a hallmark of the well produced voice used for traditional musical styles.
This does not usually happen without specific training.
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

15. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II – Phonation
Extrinsic Laryngeal Muscles
Suprahyoids:
Digastric
Stylohyoid
Mylohyoid
geniohyoid
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

16. THe Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II – Phonation
Extrinsic Laryngeal Muscles
Infrahyoids
Sternohyoid
Sternothyroid
Omohyoid
thyrohyoid
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

17. THe Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II – Phonation
Vocal Folds
A complex, multi-layered structure
Muscle with a loose, pliable cover called the lamina propria
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

18. THe Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II – Phonation
Vocal Folds
Described by Hirano
Revolutionized voice care
Completed theory on vf vibration
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

19. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II – Phonation
Vocal Folds – a 5 layer structure
Consists of
Mucosa – outer skin of squamous epithelium
Lamina Propria
Superficial layer – Reinke’s space
Intermediate layer
Deep layer – these two form the ligament
Body – Vocalis muscle
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

20. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II – Phonation
Vocal Folds – a 5 layer structure
The loose cover allows quasi-independent movement of the top and bottom sections
“Vertical phase difference”
Each section opens and closes as a result of changing air pressures and elasticity of the tissue
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

21. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II – Phonation
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

22. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II – Phonation
Phonatory Cycle
Pressure separates the folds – bottom first
vf are blown apart
Elasticity brings them back to midline
Bottom of the vf closes first
Top of the vf follows (verticle phase)
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

23. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II – Phonation
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

24. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II – Phonation
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

25. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II – Phonation
Pitch Change
Cricothyroid elongates the vf
Tension increases, pitch goes up
Vocalis shortens vf
Tension decreases, pitch goes down
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

26. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II – Phonation
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas

27. The Vocal Pedagogy Workshop Session II – Phonation
Loudness Change
Increased subglottal pressure blows vf further apart, loudness increases
Singers must learn to compensate for this in decreasing the CT tension
12/5/2018
The University of North Texas