Phonation: The Larynx and You

1
Phonation The Larynx and You

• What actually happens when we sing

2
Science! The Myoelastic-Aerodynamic Theory

• Simpler terms How the muscles in the larynx and
  air interact to create sound.
• Three things need to happen to phonate, or create
  sound
• The lungs and diaphragm contract, pushed air to
  flow into the glottis
• Muscles in the larynx cause the vocal fold to
  adduct, or close
• Airflow through the glottis cause the folds to
  vibrate

3
More Science The Bernoulli Effect

• When the glottis is closed, air pressure builds
  up
• When it reaches a certain point, it forces the
  vocal folds open
• As the air rushes out, the vocal folds are sucked
  back together
• The cycle starts again.

4
Locating stuff in the larynx how to describe
where things are

• Anterior/posterior- Front/back
• Superior/inferior- above/below
• Medial- Middle
• Lateral- towards the outside
• Bilateral- on both sides
• Unilateral- on one side
• Intrinsic- Inside
• Extrinsic- Outside

5
The Framework of the larynx The extrinsic
structures
6
The Framework of the larynx The intrinsic
structures
7
The muscles of the Larynx
8
The Vocal Tone What causes the voice to sound
like it does

• Types of phonation
• Aspirate- A breathy tone. Caused by incomplete
  closure of the vocal cords, which allows air to
  escape
• Pressed- A tight sound. Caused by the vocal cords
  colliding too hard
• Coordinated- The ideal sound. The right balanced
  of airflow and closure of the cords allow for the
  most efficient sound.

9
Onset and release Starting and stopping the sound

• Both can be described in the following ways
• Aspirate- Breathy. Again the vocal cords dont
  close enough
• Glottal onset- The vocal cords are pressed
  together, and then are forced open when the air
  pressure builds up
• Glottal release- A grunt occurs when the vocal
  cords are forced close
• Coordinated- Ideal combination of airflow and
  closure of the vocal cords

10
So what does a good voice sound like?

• Sounds natural for the person singing
• No tension in the face, neck, limbs, and torso
• Tonal clarity and accuracy
• Ability to swing from various dynamic levels with
  ease
• Natural, unforced vibrato (6-8 pulses/second)
• Chiaroscuro- Light and dark properties,
  brilliance plus warmth and richness
• A ringing, forward in the mask focus