Logan Bertrand

MUSE 258 / Choral Methods

The Singers Voice Vol. 3: The Human Voice
Joan Wall & Robert Caldwell

The human voice has many different parts to it. These are always in constant motion with
each other. Breath is effected by the Lungs and Diaphragm through inhalation and exhalation.
Phonation has to do with the vocal folds and other muscles inside the larynx. Resonance is
changed and effected by the lips, jaw, tongue, soft and hard palate and the larynx. These parts
push and pull together to shape the air inside of the body. Resonance is effected when the air
column is changed and shaped differently. The air inside of the body responds by tapping waves
on the outside of the body. Just as primary colors are mixed together to form one, partials in the
voice do the same to produce a single tone.
Consonants do not have partials that repeat each other as vowel sounds do. These patterns
cannot necessarily be matched or repeated. To change the frequency of pulses, the vocal folds
must change the pulses produced by the vocal folds per second. As the frequency of the tone
rises, the sound has fewer partials. In turn, the frequency has more partials with lower pitches. As
the first partial grows in size, so do the other partials. This is a pattern that we can watch with
modern technology. The more quickly the folds close, the brighter the tone will get. In addition,
the air column filters partials from the source of the sound. This air column is selective and
favors some partials over others.
It is important to educate students on how the human voice works. Going into too much
detail is not the most effective method but giving them knowledge to better understand their
instrument is a useful tool to have. I plan to show them how the placement of their tongue, jaw
lips, and palates can affect their overall tone production. From a young age they are shown

through music on the radio that bright and nasally singing is what is cool. I strive to have all of
my students produce a healthy and well-shaped tone. Explaining how the folds move more
quickly when they sing brighter tones is also something that could be useful knowledge for them
to gain.

Logan Bertrand
MUSE 258 / Choral Methods
The Singers Voice Vol. 3: Vocal Tract
Joan Wall & Robert Caldwell
The vocal tract is the resonator of the voice. The hollow spaces inside and around the
mouth form this resonator that is necessary for good quality singing. The vocal tract can change
the sound produced by changing its shape. With that said, the tongue is the most flexible of all
moveable structures dealing with tone production. The tongue and jaw move independently from
each other but also continuously at the same time. Right above the vocal folds is where the ring
of ones voice is said to be produced. The lips are the last part of these resonators that can affect
the sound that is produced and heard. That is why lip placement is extremely important in solo
and choral singing. The soft palate, connected to the hard palate, functions as a valve. The soft
palate has the job of opening and closing off the nasal cavity. It is usually raised while singing
and is known as the gateway into the mouth.
Movements in the head have effects on the upper and back wall of the vocal tract. Posture
is important for this reason because un-aligning your head and neck will greatly change the size
and shape of the vocal tract. We want to maximize this space not restrict it. The lips, tongue,
larynx, spine, head, and hard/soft palate all effect one another. They can change the vocal tract
and ultimately the resonance of your sound. Explaining this process that the vocal tract plays in
resonating tone is quite important for young singers. Even merely helping children open the
vocal tract to have a more free and resonant sound is a huge victory. Too many young singers are
singing with a pressed and strained vocal tract. Pop singing has been a huge factor in the way
young children think a good tone production should sound. Explaining that they can still sing

this, and all other music, is something I hope to do while keeping a healthy and nice sounding
tone.