Vocal Survey Essay

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If one desires to fully understand and have competency in training a singer with a low voice, they must first understand what decides a voice type and timbre. The sound of a singer’s voice has multiple deciding variables. These variables consist partially of the size and shape of the larynx, the formation of the respiratory and resonating systems. A singer with a lower voice possesses longer and thicker vocal folds whereas a singer with a higher voice has shorter and thinner vocal folds. In most cases, male vocal folds are longer while female vocal folds are shorter, male vocal folds being on average between 1.75 centimeters and 2.5 centimeters in length and female vocal folds being generally between 1.25 and 1.75 centimeters in length. A …show more content…

Vocal fry is different from natural voice because it phonates lower and in a unique way. When frying, vocal folds remain short and have minimal change in shape or length, as opposed to the stretching and relaxing that takes place within the vocal folds during pitch change in natural voice. When frying, lower subglottal pressure is present than with regular phonation. In addition, observations have shown less use of the posterior cricoarytenoid, interarytenoid, and cricothyroid during fry than while singing in chest voice. Conversely, the thyroarytenoid is activated and used more in vocal fry than in natural voice. Strohbass is viewed in both positive and negative perspectives. Some pedagogues believe it to worthy of strengthening by low basses and useful to performance with particular evidence drawn from the frequency of use in Russian ensembles and literature. Others, however, reject it and hold the opinion that it contains no legitimate phonation quality and compare it to a mere groan, squeak, or scream. Some others argue as well that Strohbass has no musicality aside from the possibility of measuring pitch and therefore has no legitimacy in a vocal context. Many pedagogues, such as William Vennard, believe strohbass to be an effective practice for correcting a breathy timbre. According to Vennard, the utilization of vocal fry all but eradicates the possibility of breathiness because of the tension required to cause phonation. Vennard believed this tension not to be negative, however, as it stays confined to the glottis without affecting the remaining musculature of the throat. This can also be used as an effective technique and exercise for the benefit of students with excess tension in their singing. Again other pedagogues, such as Richard Miller, would argue that vocal fry should be employed

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