Nuisances of Vocal Technique…

Nuisances of Vocal Technique…

The voice is a very intricate instrument… Unfortunately, it is more difficult to move a singer from bad habits to good habits. Yet, it is very easy for a singer who has good habits to be influenced by others and adopt bad habits, if they are unaware of what they are doing that is good, is better left unchanged. Is the previous statement a metaphor about life? It’s difficult to build an empire, but an empire can be dismantled in no time flat! Such as is the voice. I will always remember how my friend, Michael Jeffries so succinctly stated it. He said: “… to re-program is harder than to program!” I love the concise way in which Michael stated it, and I use that in my teaching to this day. Please don’t get me wrong, because improving a voice is done everyday – as to why good vocal coaches are in business, and singers provide testimony as to their success.

There are not many students who come into a voice lesson and who mixes from chest voice to head voice without vocal breaks of one kind or another with little or no vocal training. They are far and few between. When a singer comes into a voice lesson that has good vocal habits, I’m quick to tell them what and why what they are doing is right and to continue using that by reinforcing it – making it even better! Most often they are not even aware they possess good habits, and I have to inform them so we can build on that. Then they know that’s a good habit – and if anyone of influence tries to change it, they are aware to be cautious!

Things must work in the right way in order to get the best vocal performance that the voice is possible of producing. And a high-larynx, for instance, is not a good thing. The vocal cords are housed within the larynx, and for better or for worse, they are strongly influenced by the activity or inactivity of the larynx. Basically, whether we singers know it or not, we have an easier time vocalizing when the larynx is not active; that is, vocal cords function better when the larynx stays in a low, relaxed position. This allows the vocal cords to function as best they can based on proper vocal training and exercises they have been given. The swallowing action of the hyoid bone and the epiglottis is not conducive to good vocal cord phonation. Too often, a singer uses the wrong extrinsic muscles to assist them in making pitch. Those outer muscles are better left outside of the pitch-making process, for engaging them is the long way around to one’s destination and causes serious vocal abuse in the process. I am always observing students to see or hear if their larynx is high. Getting the larynx down and to stay down avoids vocal hoarseness and other vocal complications such as nodules.

There are many tools to address vocal bad habits, including a high larynx so it remains low and stable. But these varied number of tools placed in the wrong hands or utilized by an untrained person, and even an unskilled vocal instructor, is down right dangerous and can lead to vocal damage. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on one’s point of view, a teacher has to study and teach proper vocal technique for years before they grow into proper usage of the tools with skill and creativity. Proper vocal technique is not something anyone can go and acquire in one or a few voice lessons without truly understanding why the technical vocal instructor gave them particular exercises. Because a skilled technical vocal instructor might give Student A one exercise to fix Student A’s particular problem, but will give Student B a different exercise because Student B’s problem is completely different from Student A’s! A different prescription for a different ailment as it were… The very same exercise given to Student A could be poison to Student B and feed into Student B’s problem. In my opinion, a teacher seeking to understand vocal technique needs to study, go to class, research, and take technical voice lessons from masters of the trade. Vocal technique takes time and years of study to master.

Again, as opposed to fixing problems, the wrong exercises over a period of time can feed and exacerbate vocal problems. Vocal exercises strongly influence what habits the singer adopts, as does the demonstrations the instructor uses to influence the student. So applying the correct exercises and good vocal demonstrations from the instructor to cure vocal fatigue, hoarseness, straining, chronic falsetto, and unease to influence good vocal cord phonation are critical. The vocal instructor must be grounded in good vocal habits so they can influence the student to move in a better direction. When a student confirms that what they are experiencing is easier than before our voice lesson(s) and (get this) sounds better! – It makes what I do worthwhile and enjoyable. I love it!

Vocal Technique

Hope This Helps
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Written by Alexys Paris