ABCD -

25 August 2012

Singing technique for young

voices a practical approach

Dr Jenevora Williams
Illustrations by Harry Venning

Infant and
adult vocal
tract

Infant and
adult larynx

Infant and adult lungs

Limitations of the young voice

pitch range
length of phrases
loudness
stamina
muscular coordination and isolation

These limitations gradually reduce over time

until adolescent changes begin

Pre-school singing activities

Vocal mechanism still adapting for speech (short vocal tract)

Activities - nursery rhymes, action songs

Pre-school vocal skill possibilities

posture awareness

movement and singing

choosing the best pitch range to encourage in-tune singing

Key Stage 1 - ages 4 to 7yrs

Vocal mechanism able to speak well

Singing activities - group songs, some rounds
possible

Technical limitations at this age:

pitch range

overall muscular coordination and awareness

Key Stage 1 - ages 4 to 7yrs

Technical possibilities:
posture
breathing (?)
exploring full upper pitch range

Key Stage 2 - ages 7 - 11yrs

Vocal mechanism developing strength and agility

Singing activities - group songs (in 2 or 3 parts),
solo songs
common issue:
in-tune singing

Key Stage 2 - ages 7 - 11yrs

Technical possibilities

posture

breathing

pitch range

reducing breathiness

The Larynx and

the vocal folds

Breathiness

what causes breathy singing?

reduce overall effort levels

onset exercise

more twang/ring

Other techniques
originating in the larynx pitch and registers

Chest/head or thick/thin

Which pitch to change register?

Weak upper register - resonance

Voicing: other techniques

originating in the larynx
Onset

- 4 types

aspirate
glottal
simultaneous
creak

Voicing: other techniques

originating in the larynx
- constriction

What is the prime function of the larynx?

general release and movement

silent in-breath

puffy cheeks

giggling

Resonance:
the vocal tract

Consists of mouth, nose and

pharynx
Think of as a squeezy tube:
changing the shape alters vowels
and resonance qualities

Larynx height, lip position

Soft palate

Vocal tract - Jaw

Gripping

Pulling forward (over-opening)

Vocal tract - Tongue

Tongue root tension Pulling back and pressing down

(enhancing internal acoustic signal, larynx control)

Tongue tip exercises (teeth)

Resonance skills

Very useful reduce projection effort levels

Enhancing higher formants

Twang
Feeling vibrations (hard palate, nose etc)
Working with ee and oo

Soft palate work (holding nose, ngee etc)

Vocal tract shape + Tongue position

Quality of sound

Projection

Onset

Vocal fold thickness

Phrasing

Vowels and consonants

Degree of tilt

Larynx height

Safe belting

What is belting?

Thick-fold (speech/shout)

High air pressure / Low air flow

High pitch range (C5 to F5)

To make it easier

Projection

Deconstriction

Stabilising efficient posture/breathing

Adolescent voice
- overall growth patterns

Caused by changing hormone levels

Physical growth is in growth spurts or stages

Growth of larynx mirrors overall growth

Adolescent larynx

Female growth: 33%

Male growth: 66%

Thickening of vocal folds

Vocal folds coronal section

Child

Adult female

Adult male

Adolescent voices
- girls

Larynx growth

Glottal chink breathiness

Coordination - Register breaks

Voice change tends to be most noticeable with onset of menses,

this may occur some time after the initial hormonal change

Huskiness = Hormones
Pre-menstrual and menstrual phases water
retention in the mucosa of the vocal folds
Vocal fatigue
Decreased range
Loss of vocal power
Loss of vocal brightness
Loss of pianissimo
Problems with intonation
Hoarseness

(Filipa L, 2005)

Adolescent voice
onset of puberty - Boys

Boy is born with a biological clock for pubertal onset

Castration

Starvation

Chronic illness

Severe emotional deprivation

(in girls it can be accelerated by obesity, in boys it can be delayed by obesity)

Normal child - hormones - pre-determined age

regardless of vocal training

Any influence of environment has not been researched

Five developmental stages of

adolescent male voice

Extended singing range (unfilled note)

Comfortable modal singing range (filled note)
Speech fundamental frequency (cross)
(Cooksey 2000)

Edward from 14 to 16yrs

210

183

155

128

100
170

178

185

193

200

Age in months
Height in cm
Speaking f0 in Hz

Singing exclusively in falsetto

residual habits

High larynx position

Pharyngeal constriction

More open vocal folds (respiratory habits of

onset and sustain)
Using specific muscle groups in extreme and
unrelenting contraction when they are growing
and changing shape rapidly (66%)

Teaching boy singers what is good practice?

Occasional falsetto vs exclusive falsetto

Repertoire especially CCM

Choral music especially tenor parts

Young voices pedagogical implications?

Shorter phrases

Smaller pitch and volume range

Range of vowel differentiation/vocal colours is less

Fewer voice qualities and less vocal stamina

Different pitch range of vocal registers

Conclusion
The rules of healthy voice use apply to all ages
Children can sing in any style or range that is possible within
this
All voices have limitations of pitch, loudness, breath sustain and
voice quality

Repertoire choice

Absolutely crucial
Shorter phrases
Smaller pitch and volume range
Range of vowel differentiation/vocal colours is less
Fewer voice qualities and less vocal stamina
Different pitch range of vocal registers

Avoid:

High Loud

Fast

Long

vocal technique
Keep playing
Try new ideas every day
If it doesnt work, try another one
If it does work, share it
Stay curious

Recommended further
reading
On singing
Chapman, J. (2006). Singing and teaching singing. San Diego, Plural Publishing.
Dayme, M. B. (2005). The Performer's Voice. New York, W Norton & company.

On teaching
McPherson, G., Ed. (2006). The Child as Musician, Oxford University Press.
Harrison, S., G. Welch, et al., Eds. (2012). Perspectives on males and singing, Springer.
MacPherson, G. and G. Welch, Eds. Oxford Handbook of Music Education. Oxford, OUP.

and...
Williams, J (2012). Teaching singing to children and young adults, Compton Publishing Ltd