What does Voice Training involve?

Voice training involves becoming aware of and developing all the parts of the body involved in producing vocal sound and speech. There are four primary areas of work that are essential for optimal voice production and form a logical vocal progression. These are: body and posture; breathing; the start of the sound (phonation); the transformation of sound into speech and language (resonance and articulation).

 Let’s look briefly at each of these.

1. Body and Posture

The body is the housing or ‘case’ of the vocal instrument. One of the first tasks of the voice teacher is identifying and releasing tensions in the body, which impede the free flow of breath, and, in turn, compromise the quality of the sound produced.

Of particular importance is the spine. This not only supports us, but is also connected to the areas of the body involved in the production of sound – the breathing muscles of the pelvis and abdomen, for example, the rib cage and the larynx.

Finding an optimal balance in the alignment of the head, neck and back is very important as this contributes to creating optimal space in the channel formed by the throat and mouth cavities, allowing our breath to drop in more easily, and our voice to resonate more fully. Optimal alignment also ensures that the muscles in the pelvic region and abdomen are released and free to support the outflow of breath. The rib cage is also able to swing open more easily, allowing the lungs to fully expand and more air to be drawn in. 

2. Breath

Breath is the raw material from which sound is produced. When we breathe in, the lungs fill with air causing the diaphragm to contract downwards and the abdomen to move outwards.  As we start to breathe out, the diaphragm releases and returns to its resting position. This creates a pressure beneath the lungs which enables the air contained there to move up into the trachea or windpipe towards the larynx where it meets the vocal folds and creates a vibration.

As the diaphragm releases, the abdominal muscles contract and move inwards, towards the spine. This creates a further pressure beneath the diaphragm, helping it to release fully, as well as providing a ‘support’ for the steady outflow of breath, leaving the muscles of the larynx and throat free to do their job of producing and communicating sound.

An optimal breathing pattern involves finding this coordination of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles. Once it has been established, breath and voice can then connect more organically,  as our breathing begins to respond more directly to our thoughts, impulses, and to what we want to say. Supported by breath in this way, our speech becomes clearer and stronger and our communication more effective. 

3. Voice

Vocal sound is produced at the level of the larynx. This is a structure made up of bone, cartilage and muscle, which is situated in the middle of the neck. It is more visible in men and known as the ‘Adam’s apple’. Housed in the larynx are two tiny folds of tissue known as the vocal folds. These contain a ligament and muscle and are covered with a thin layer of mucous - a mucous membrane or mucosa.

When we breathe in, the vocal folds open, allowing the air to pass down the trachea, or windpipe, into the lungs. When we speak or sing, the folds close, forming an obstruction in the airway. As air starts to flow up from the lungs, it builds up in pressure until it is strong enough to overcome the resistance caused by the closed vocal folds. When the air pressure becomes sufficient, the vocal folds open and a short pulse of air is released. The low pressure that immediately follows this release of air causes the folds to close again, and the whole cycle is repeated.

The pulses of air, which are released through this cycle, cause the covering of the vocal folds –the mucosa – to vibrate creating soundwaves. At this level a buzzing sound is produced, which is modified and shaped into speech and language, by the resonators and articulators situated in the throat and mouth above the larynx.

4. Transformation of sound into speech and language

Speech and language are produced above the vocal folds, in the throat, mouth and nose. Once the raw sound has been produced in the larynx, it moves up into the resonating cavities of the throat, mouth and nose known together as the vocal tract. These act as ‘loud speakers’ and play an important part in the projection, quality and character of the voice. The resonators act in the same way as the soundboard of a piano or cello but being alive, they are able to change shape and adapt to the many different sounds and pitches that can be produced by the human voice. Then, during the last stage of the progression, the resonated sound is formed into the vowels and consonants of language by the articulators - the tongue, lips, and jaw.

Once body, breath and voice are in place and working well together, we can begin to think more imaginatively about words and communication. It is then possible for the voice to truly become a bridge between our inner and outer worlds. When this happens, there is the potential not only for psychological and physical change and growth, but also for real change in the quality and character of our speech and language as our voice becomes more alive and interesting as it reflects our imaginative life more directly. Our speech and communication then becomes authentic and honest and as a result of this, we find ourselves able to speak and communicate more freely and with confidence.