How does the voice work?

Answer 1

The human voice is a very mysterious entity because it cannot be directly seen as it is used. Unlike other Musical Instruments where the teacher can actually see what the student is doing, vocal training requires a teacher with an excellent ear that can identify the sounds a student produces with actual vocal function. I call this teaching ability, "x-ray ears"! For the student it is impossible to "hear" your own voice as others do. Therefore, it is helpful for the student of voice, whether they be a speaker or a singer to increase their understanding of exactly how this mysterious entity known as their "voice" actually works. Teaching voice should ideally be teaching the student to know his/her own voice well, what the options are and how to use them for a free and healthy sound.

Vocal production can seem like a complicated phenomenon, and therefore, I would like to break the voice down into the simplest components as possible. I will discuss what the voice is physically made up of, what variables it uses, and how the singer or speaker can use these variables and physical components in order to have vocal ease, strength and a pleasant vocal quality.

What is the human voice made of? Very simply- the muscles of the larynx, air, space and the articulators (tongue, teeth, palate, lips). That's it! These components interact with each other to produce your unique vocal sound. But you need to keep in mind that a vocalist uses the entire body to sing. This is why body alignment work is so important. Voice lessons, if taught by a competent teacher, should address each of these components through various exercises and concepts. It is also equally important to know which muscles and functions potentially interfere with the voice.

The muscle/mucous part of the voice is the vocal folds (aka vocal cords), which are a tiny paired muscle found in the larynx or voice box in your throat. The vocal cords are covered with a very important layer of mucous which basically has the consistency of jello. Other tiny muscles within the larynx control the space between the cords as well as the length of the cords. The vocal cords need to be brought together in order to produce sound. If they are too tightly brought together or not taut enough the vocal quality suffers. The larynx must be free to vibrate without excessive tensions from the throat constrictor muscles. Once they are brought together airflow makes them vibrate very quickly through the mucous layer that sits on them. If you are not getting enough water or are consuming products that dehydrate yourself, the vocal cords do not function freely. A symptom of this is a frequent need to clear your throat. I suggest 8 glasses of pure water or decaffeinated herbal tea per day. You should limit alcohol and caffeine consumption.

The voice is also made up of air. The air is the voice's energy source that you control with each breath that you take while singing or speaking. The air sets the vocal cords vibrating and oscillating through the mucous covering. Singing/speaking without a healthy air supply is like trying to drive a car without gas! Your breath is your fuel and it is vitally important. Vocalizing requires a sustained breath. When we inhale high in the body and raise our sternum/shoulder area for the breath, the exhalation cannot be sustained or controlled easily and actually tires the tiny throat muscles used for singing/speaking, producing vocal fatigue, tension and often, an airy sound.

On the other hand, learning how to take a breath which expands the ribcage and pelvic floor gives the vocalist ease and control over the voice once this technique is learned. A vocalist doesn't need more air, just more control over the air supply. One important fact that is almost always over-looked by voice teachers is how to prepare the body before taking a breath. It is almost impossible to take a healthy ribcage breath if your stomach muscles (the abdominals) are tense. The first step to proper breathing for voice, then, is to relax the abdominal area.

The voice is also most importantly made up of space.

Space? Let me explain. When you play any other musical instrument (and yes, even good speaking can be musical), that instrument is already built. You just simply learn to play it. The human voice is unique in that it is an instrument that is built as it is "played". The shape or space of this instrument is created by the size of your throat and mouth, other wise known as your "vocal tract". This is determined by how you take your breath, and the ability to relax those muscles that close the throat, many of which control swallowing and movements of the tongue. The shape of the voice is what makes it so mysterious, as it cannot be seen, only heard. When your throat is made smaller by the constrctor muscles, your larynx is elevated and the voice feels tight and strained. The sound produced is far from your best. If you employ the back of your tongue to push your larynx down in order to sing or speak, your voice will most likely sound and feel good to you. Unfortunately, no one but you will hear this pleasant sound. Your voice will not resonate to others as your primary resonator, your throat, will be filled up with your tongue! The goal of the vocalist then is to open the throat (as in a yawn) while relaxing the tongue. There are no muscles in the throat that help us to sing or speak with a resonant sound. Only the tiny muscles located in the larynx produce vibration and pitch which can be resonated by an open and totally relaxed throat.

What are the variables that a voice can work with? Pitch, head and chest registers, volume control, sounds (vowels and consonants), and vocal quality, depending on the style of music you are singing. Voice lessons will help you to become aware of these qualities and how to balance and manipulate them within your voice. Different vocal qualities and music usually bring up a wide gamut of strong emotions in the vocalist. It is important to recognize this- the voice is meant to be a communicative device closely connected to our spiritual selves. The more options the speaker or singer has available within their voice, the more they are able to express the gamut of human emotions. By expanding your voice, you expand yourself and the range of emotions you are able to express. This is the true goal of voice lessons.

One thing to remember is that learning to improve your voice is a gradual process. You are teaching your muscles new ways of responding. The process will become automatic, but it takes daily practice and often several years of study, depending on the student. Typically, at first you will be able to produce healthy changes during voice lessons. Gradually these improvements will carry-over into practice at home. The next step is getting so used to the new way of using your vocal and breathing muscles (while relaxing the constrictors) that this will become second nature to you during performances or in public speaking. Practice, dedication and good communication with a trusted voice teacher are the ingredients for success. You will get out of voice training exactly what you put into it. It's a wonderful journey of self-growth, exploration and exciting possibilities.