Mike wrote:
> taylor,
>
> again, my apologies. i had long assumed that increasing the
>bulk of the intrinsic muscles of the larynx was highly unlikely if
>not impossible. as randy pointed out, as a solution to bowing, it
>makes perfect sense. i have to wonder, if this exercise is good
>for people with bowed folds,
> wouldn't the same exercise, done in the same way, benefit everyone?
Dear Mike and List,
No apologies necessary. If I had a buck for everytime I've
stood corrected on this list- I could probably buy the bronze statue
of Caruso at La Scala!
An excellent study regarding the exact muscular activity of
the laryngeal muscles can be found in: "A Series of Four
Electromyographic Studies" by Bill Vennard, Minoru Hirano, John
Ohala, and Bjorn Fritzell, 1971." The Journal of Singing has info on
how to obtain them. These studies alone can clear up a world of
confusion regarding muscular activity of the Vocalis(TA),CT, and LCA
muscles in falsetto, head-voice, and chest-voice. Sometimes, to find
the right information- you need to dig a bit:)
The other day I described how when the TA(Vocalis)is active,
the voice emits a 'chesty' quality. Ingo Titze describes the
importance of the cross-sectional shape of the vocal folds.
Basically, Titze discovered that when the TA contracts, the underside
of the vocal fold is rounded, or bulged(you may liken this to the
bulging of the biceps when you make a muscle). When vocal folds with
a bulged, rounded underside are in phonation, the spectrum is
characterized by high levels of acoustic energy in the upper-
partials, giving it a richer, fuller sound.
From the above statement it is logical to propose that
through guided exercise, we can increase the endurance and strength
of the CT(Cricothyroid) for high pitches AND strength and bulk of the
TA. Thus, creating a 'rounded' vocal fold (which Titze described as
having high levels of acoustic energy- RING!!) which produces a voice
that is more powerful, and fuller in quality. Singers will often do
ANYTHING to create sounds like this- even if it means singing with a
lot of artificial weight in the voice.
Another valuable source quote:
"As we have said, the chest register is generally denied or
rejected by teachers, not that one could not draw from its
application an immense advantage, nor that the supression of the
range whivh it embraces would not deprive the singer of the most
beautiful dramatic effects or the most favorable contrasts, but
because one can approach the study of this register only with the
help of profound knowledge, under the threat of ruining the student's
voice, and because the blending of this register with that of the
falsetto can be secured only by a long and ably directed labor. It
has therefore been judged simpler and more natural to free oneself
from the difficulty of studying it."
No, this quote is not from a current source. It's Garcia II
in 1841. Also, it is interesting to note that in Mancini's book
(Practical Reflections on figured Singing) there were no examples of
vocal exercises given. Most likely he didn't think it was necessary
to include them. Many of the principles were much better understood
then and to write them out would have been to state the obvious.
Open many voice books today and what do you see-- pages and pages of
vocal exercises- interesting huh?
We as voice teachers don't need to reinvent the wheel. We
need to find out how the heck the wheel was made.
Take Care All,
Taylor L. Ferranti
DMA Candidate in Vocal Pedagogy
LSU
>
> perhaps there is a limit to brute strength's usefulness in the
operation
> of the larynx in singing. i can imagine the increase of bulk in
the folds
> making the voice lower and i can also imagine that it might make it
possible
> for extending the heavy mechanism higher. but, i wonder if, in
the latter
> case, would that make it more difficult to incorporate the action
of the
> crico-thyroid muscles? i suppose thay could be built up too
(headline:
> 'singer strangles himself to death- no hands!').
>
> i have to admit i'm too stunned to get carried away imagining
all the
> possibilities.
> hey, maybe peter hoffman will make a comeback with a workout video
for the
> larynx.
>
> dazed and confused,
> mike
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