VOCAL THEORY
TERMINOLOGY
While this list is far from exhaustive, it contains brief and practical explanations of the terms used in further vocal lessons.
Adam's apple - common term for thyroid cartilage; the part of the larynx which protrudes from the front of the neck.
Break or disconnect - any sudden change, interruption, or shift in tone usually from chest to falsetto, falsetto to chest, and sometimes form chest to head voice i.e. in yodeling, and some R&B styles. However, many breaks are accidental or are used to hide the singer's lack of ability to connect vocal registers.
Bridge or passage area - commonly referred to as the "break," this is the place in your range where you start to blend registers. The common first bridges are:
basses: A - A# - B below middle С
baritones: C# - D - D# above middle С
tenor/alto: E - F - F# above middle С
mezzo soprano: G - G# - A
soprano: A - A# - B
Delineation - the approach to singing notes in a separated manner without singing staccato, especially in trills.
Epiglottis - the leaf-like cartilage that separates the functioning of your esophagus from the functioning of your trachea.
Larynx - commonly known as the voice box; the organ at the top of the wind pipe or trachea. The vocal cords and their corresponding muscles are found inside the larynx. The muscles used for swallowing are found outside the larynx.
Licks, trills and runs - scales or parts of scales sung dynamically.
Legato - long, smooth, connected notes.
Nasal/head cavity - resonating area in the upper half of your head.
Resonance - the amplification of sound in the cavities of the mouth and head. Since everyone is unique in their anatomical design, the resonance is unique as well.
Slides - singing from note to note stylistically, without any delineation; most common in blues and country music.
Soft palate - the soft fleshy back part of the roof of your mouth. This can be felt by placing the tip of the tongue to the roof of the mouth, which is the hard palate, and then roll your tongue backwards. This is your soft palate.
Staccato - short, disconnected notes
Style - a personalized approach or mannerism to singing or any other human activity.
Timbre - a person's particular vocal color or tone quality
Timing - a particular approach to rhythmic singing
Vibrato - a natural oscillation or pitch variant that is the result of the dynamic balancing of airflow and vocal cord approximation. Vibrato is not hereditary! It is simply a sign of a healthy voice.
Vocal cords - two muscular folds located inside the larynx. Like air escaping through a balloon while someone is pinching the opening, the vocal cords vibrate as air passes by them, creating sound.
Vocal register - a grouping of adjacent notes made with the same coordination:
- Chest voice - This voice resonates primarily in the chest. Marked by a rich, deep timber, this is the register in which we normally speak. The vocal cords are vibrating across their entire length.
- Head voice - This voice resonates primarily in the head. It is the highest part of your natu¬ral range, sometimes producing a softer, hooty sound. The vocal cords zip up about 2/3 or their length leaving 1/3 free to vibrate, falsetto - This is the lightest of all vocal coordinations. It tends to be airy and lacks volume and depth of sound.
- Vocal fry - Though this register is uncommon, it is used by some bass singers to produce the lowest possible sound. The vocal cords vibrate extremely slow. (It sounds kind of like Elmer Fudd.)
- Whistle register - Another uncommon register found primarily in the female voice, the vocal cords zip up almost their entire length leaving just a small opening free to vibrate.
- Mixed register - A blend of head and chest registers referred to in lessons as "THE MIX."
CHECK POINTS AND RECCOMENDATIONS
It might sound familiar when you have one of those days when you can't sing anything well? The truth is that there are few performers in the world who can boast complete vocal and technical consistency. However, being aware of the issues listed in this section can dramatically increase your batting average. Run through this list of "Check Points" to see if there is some simple aspect that you might be overlooking.
TECHNIQUE
Another set of ears
Ears that are not on your head hear your voice much differently than you do.
Discipline
Building and maintaining your voice requires that you spend a lot of time singing and listening. Tape yourself periodically and listen critically.
Do you abuse your voice?
If you are pushing your chest voice, singing too airy or just too much, your chances of improving your technique are pretly slim. Yelling at sporting events, talking loudly in smoky clubs, cheer-leading, etc. are not options for the serious vocalist.
Over-working the voice
How much your voice can take is discovered by experimentation and guided by the thickness of your vocal cords. And yes, it is possible to have great technique and still tire your voice out. Try a cycle of thirty minutes with a ten minute rest or even ten minutes of singing with twenty minutes rest. The thinner the voice, the more rest you need to bounce back.
Under-working the voice
You cannot realistically expect to sing a fifty minute set without working up to it. You can't even expect your voice to hold together through one demanding song without living with your new technique for a while.
Physical problems - See your Physician
If you suspect health issues are the problem, don't procrastinate. Really. Singing on ill cords can cause serious, even permanent damage.
HEALTH AND HAPINNES
Lacking sleep
This is the quickest way to overwork your voice, causing the cords to thicken up resulting in edema (swelling or puffy cords).
Proper exercise
Your voice is obviously going to work best when your body is in shape. Also you'll be amazed at how exercise will lower your stress level.
Balanced personal life
Did you know that you can develop vocal dysfunctions from stress? It is very true! Serious problems in our personal life can have adverse effects on your singing.
Healthy spiritual life
We are both physical and spiritual. My personal belief system in the Lord Jesus Christ brings me great peace and gives me marvelous purpose for developing my gifts.
Vitamins, Herbs and Supplements
Many nutritionists will recommend В vitamins for their reputation as being the "stress-relieving vitamins." We've had a great deal of success with certain herbal formulas for balancing out the body's five systems - immune, circulatory, digestive, endocrine and respiratory.
Reflux
Reflux is a back-flow of acid from the stomach into the esophagus. Burping up even a tiny amount of acid can burn the delicate vocal folds. Symptoms include heart burn, chest pain, and waking up with a sore throat. If you suspect this is an issue for you, your doctor can prescribe medications. Non-medical options include avoiding spicy foods, avoiding eating anything after 8:00 in the evening, and raising the head of your bed about 4 inches.
Allergies
This worrisome issue, in most cases, can be controlled with diet, supplements and medications. If allergies are an issue for you, start by eliminating milk products from your diet (it's really not as hard to do as it sounds) as they encourage excessive mucous production. Also, ask your doctor to prescribe a non-drying allergy treatment such as Allegra or Claritin.
THE HUMAN ELEMENT
Some days you have it...
...some days you don't. When all other checkpoints fail to solve your dilemma, this is the harsh reality. However, with great technique and passionate delivery, even your bad days will sound great to your audience.
Inexperience
Consistency comes with time and practice. Sing in front of people as often as possible. You will learn how your voice will react in different settings, and how you can be more in control.
Nerves
Did you know that some of the greatest performers in the business suffer from stage fright? While beta-blockers can be prescribed for severe cases, the best defense against a case of the jitters is simply to SING ANYWAY! The truth is you may never perform nerve-free, and that's just fine. An overly-calm performer usually appears to be aloof and lacking passion.
The Turtle and the Rabbit
"I have passed up many of my friends who are exceptionally gifted, even though my own singing gift is merely average. I worked harder, smarter and more consistently than most of my peers. I looked up to them and aspired to be as good as them. And this turtle caught up with those rabbits while they were sleeping and found myself able to do vocal coordinations that they can only dream of." - Brett Manning
