“He’s got a big voice!”. “She sounds so powerful!”. Think of the biggest, strongest, fullest voice you’ve ever heard. Now consider this: the human Larynx is roughly the size of a golf ball, and even smaller sometimes. The vocal folds of an adult are 18 to 23 millimeters long - not even one inch! It’s a wonder something so small can produce a huge range of sounds of all kinds: singing, laughing, shouting, crying, cheering, beat boxing, etc. So MIGHTY is the little Larynx that it can produce sounds that can be heard over an entire orchestra. So, the next time you're feeling small and defeated as a singer - remember that the most fantastic feats are often accomplished by the littlest heroes. And the unlikeliest underdog, the strongest sounds, and the greatest victories are already inside you!
Wait a minute… the Larynx can TILT?! Yep. Actually, that’s exactly how high notes work! “Laryngeal Tilt” is not just for Opera singers. It's used in all genres. In fact, singers use Laryngeal Tilt without even knowing it. The Tilt happens anytime you go up in pitch and the vocal folds pull back and stretch out. What does the Tilt feel like? Well, it feels like NOTHING! In fact, that wonderful feeling of “effortlessness” means that the Tilt did its job. You’ll know that the Tilt did NOT work if your larynx rises too much as you go higher. It also won't work very well if you force out breath and volume, if you feel neck and jaw tension, or if your vocal folds feel “pinched”. Just the mere act of thinking of high notes traveling upwards and slightly backwards is all you need to find it. After all, your Larynx was BUILT to TILT!
Adjusting your Larynx position can be quite jarring to the soul! It sometimes feels like you aren’t yourself anymore. Or, that your voice isn’t YOUR voice anymore. If you’re having trouble accessing new skills or stepping outside your comfort zone, then embrace the RIDICULOUS by imitating character voices! Need a higher Larynx? Sing like a cartoon baby, a tiny mouse, or someone on fast forward mode. Need a lower Larynx? Pretend you’re a giant, a sad or dopey character, someone moving in slow motion, or even Darth Vader. Embracing the silly and the comical gives you the security to explore the extremes of your vocal abilities and discover new vocal abilities that you never knew you had! LUKE... I AM YOUR LARYNX…
From rappers to auctioneers - We have all stood in AWE of those who possess the ability to speak quickly and clearly with prolific prowess. If we challenge ourselves via exercises (cue: TONGUE TWISTERS!), speaking in real life will seem easy in comparison! Start slowly, carefully, and deliberately to achieve the full integrity of each individual sound. Then gradually speed up until you can go five times as fast for each of these Twisters! - “Red leather, yellow leather." - "My cutlery cuts keenly and cleanly." - “Shy Shelly says she shall sew sheets." - "You know New York, You need New York, You know you need unique New York." ... Word...
COMEDY isn’t funny when an actor thinks they are funny or tries to get laughs. Instead, it’s funny when the actor is serious, deadpan, or very committed to what they're saying. DRAMA isn’t dramatic when an actor shows how sad, angry, or emotional they are. Instead, it’s Dramatic when an actor focuses on overcoming a challenge they face. Try to play the OPPOSITES when performing your songs. Avoid getting caught up in the general MOOD of the music. Instead, discern what that mood is and see if you can find something to juxtapose. Hope in the sadness. Memory in the loss. Annoyance in the laughter. Awkwardness in the confidence. Do this - and your songs will become the OPPOSITE of boring.
What does it mean to bring your sound “FORWARD”? This term is thrown around a lot in vocal lingo. Unfortunately, it’s not very specific and can get confusing for many singers. “Forwardness” usually means to make the resonance of the voice (i.e. formants) “brighter”. However, there are several different ways to do this. You could raise the larynx. You could widen the lips. You could lift the tongue’s base. You could add “Twang”. All of these things make the sound more “Forward”. So, if someone tells you to bring your sound more “forward”, then maybe you can ask them to be more specific. Or, maybe you can be more specific yourself by only adding the “forward” elements that help your voice best come forth!
“What nice Velar-Pharyngeal Control you have!” Wait. WHAT?! That’s the technical term for Nasal Resonance. It can give you greater flexibility, volume, and clarity while also making singing more effortless. Try pinching your nose and singing in three different ways. 1. With a LOT of buzz in your nose. 2. With NO buzz. 3. With a moderate amount of buzz. With each of these variations, try taking the pinch away and producing the same sound you achieved with the pinch. Remember, a sound that passes through the nose won’t necessarily be perceived as "nasal"! Instead, having control over the amount of Nasal Resonance you use will help boost various harmonics in your voice. Now THAT’s nice Velar-Pharyngeal Control!
What is RESONANCE? Resonance is “sound waves vibrating within a space”. Those spaces are the pharynx, larynx, nasal cavity, and mouth. Yet, Resonance can often cause sensations and vibrations in other parts of the body too. Simple spoken exercises can help you locate these vibrations. Find Chest Voice by calling out a strong “YO!”. You'll likely feel a slight vibration in the chest. Nasal Resonance can be felt by humming on “MM”. You should feel vibrations behind your nose. To experience Head Voice, make a high-pitched owl sound on “HOO”. You should feel slight vibrations in various places in your head. Your Resonance is beautiful. Hopefully, you FEEL that this is true!
The STATUS we present plays a key role in how our speaking voices are perceived in social conversations or business interactions. Instead of thinking of Status referring to how much power or money you have, consider Status as an aspect of your POSTURE. What shape do you take on around others? How big or small do you allow yourself to be? Standing up tall with your shoulders wide rather than slightly slouching. Leaning forward toward your listener rather than away from them. Using hand or arm gestures rather than staying completely still. All of these are examples of higher Postural Status. So, the next time you need to make a strong impression - change your shape and change your STATUS!