Singing and the Human Voice
The sensation that we call sound is the result of vibrations impinging on our eardrums, caused by airwaves that progress rapidly outward from the initial vibrating medium. A simple illustration is to pluck a guitar string (metallic or nylon). You may see the string shaker or vibrate rapidly back and forth, thus disturbing the surrounding air. The air vibrations, spreading out in all directions, impinge on your eardrums, one after the other, and thus excite the organs of hearing. By striking or plucking the strings, you have acted as a stimulator by putting the surrounding body or vibrator into motion in which it turn has caused the air to vibrate at the same rate. The ear, however does not detect all sounds caused by vibrating bodies, for many of them are too weak and indistinct. It is therefore necessary, in addition to the factors previously mentioned that, the vibrating waves have sufficient power to reach the ear. Strength of sound is due to force with which it is generated and to reinforcement that is furnished by certain surrounding bodies called resonators. The striking or plucking fingers of the guitar string are the motor or stimulator and the strings is the vibrator. The resulting sound, however, would be weak and lacking its characteristic quality if it were not for the guitar box with its volume of air, which acting as a sympathetic resonator reinforces the sound generated by the strings. In its physical aspect, singing has a well-defined technique that depends on the use of lungs, which act as an air supply, or bellows; on the larynx (or the voice box, located in the throat which has two elastic membranes stretched across it, which are commonly known as vocal folds or vocal cords), which acts as a reed or vibrator, on the chest and head cavities, which have the function of the amplifier or resonator, as the tube in a wind instrument; and the tongue, which together with the palate, teeth, and lips articulate and impose consonants and vowels on the amplified sound. Sounds or tones vary in loudness and pitch, and quality, according to the force, with which the motor or stimulator used the length of the vibrating column of air and the way it is managed, and the size and shape of the resonators.
Although the voice has been compared to other musical instruments, it has some features which make it distinctive.
Musical instruments are often described as comprising of:
- A generator - something to power the sound;
- A vibrator - the thing that actually makes the sound;
- And a resonator - a means of amplifying the sound.
For example, when playing a violin the movement of the bow generates the sound, the strings vibrate and produce the sound, and the hollow wooden body of the violin amplifies the sound.
Where the voice is concerned, the voice book credits the breath with generating the sound. Air flows through the vocal folds, causing them to vibrate and produce sound, after which the pharyngeal, oral and nasal cavities contribute resonance.
But thoughts and feelings are what make the voice go. They do this in part by making the breath go. But your thoughts and feelings are the real generator as far as the vocal instrument is concerned. Sure, you can produce all manner of vocal sounds by manipulating your breath directly, but only singing motivated directly by your thoughts and feelings will communicate them effectively.
In addition to the stimulator, vibrator, and resonators common to all instruments, it possesses an articulator formed by the tongue, lips, palate, jaws, and teeth which make it possible the formation of words. Also unlike the resonating chambers of other instruments, certain parts of the resonators of the human mechanism can be changed at will through movements of the tongue, lips, jaw, and palate. Hence, a great variety of sounds is possible.
Though these four mechanisms function independently, they are nevertheless coordinated in the establishment of a vocal technique and are made to interact upon one another. In order to form the different vowel and consonant sounds the vibrator, the resonators, and the articulatory organs have to be adjusted in many different ways. This should be done at an appropriate speed, in the right way, at the proper time, and in the correct order. Moreover, in order to produce clear and pleasant tones, the breath must be managed well down the process of stimulation. During passive breathing, air is inhaled with the diaphragm while exhalation occurs without any effort. Exhalation may be aided by the abdominal, internal intercostals and the lower pelvic muscles. Inhalation is aided by use of external intercostals, scalene and sternocleidomastoid muscles. The pitch is altered with the vocal cords. With the lips closed this called humming. When one realizes that in addition to all these, the voice in singing must reproduce pitches accurately, it is apparent to play or manipulate the vocal instrument satisfactorily and effectively requires ability and skill of no man order.
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