Vocal Training Week 1 Knowing your instrument

Our Voice is a complex instrument, capable of a wide range of expression.

All musical instruments have three common elements, a generator, a vibrator, and a resonator
Similar to our voice, we have three common elements
For example, our voice is powered by breath from our lungs (generator) that makes our vocal
cords (vibrator) move. The sound produced by our vocal cord is colored and amplified by
resonance in our throat, mouth and nasal cavity (resonators)
In addition, singers also have 1 more extra elements created by our Godthats why we singers
are special and unique in His eyes =) which is articulators -- the mouth, teeth, tongue, lips,
cheeks, and palates (roof of the mouth) -- which gives singers the unique capability of combining
words with music.
1. Breath Generator
Air powers your singing, and controlling the inflow and outflow of air requires the skilled use of
breathing muscles and organs which are trachea, lungs, diaphragm, ribs (and associate muscles)
and abdominal muscles
Vocal Problems: Lack of sufficient breath support and/or excessive muscular tension.
Well feel the positive effect on our singing if we manage our breath well with energy and
relaxation.
Breath Management is one of the most important practices. It affects our intonation, tone, quality,
sustaining power, range, dynamics, expression, flexibility, phrasing and stylistic interpretation.
2. Sound Production Vibrator
Vocal Cords are situated in the larynx. You can feel your vocal cords vibrating if you place your
fingers lightly on the small protrusion at front of your throat (Adams apple). Say hoo! at a
moderately high pitch. You will feel a buzzing sensation at your fingers. This is where your vocal
cords are.
Your vocal cords do not have nerves that tell you when they need rest or that they are swollen or
injured. When you have a sore throat from vocal misuse or illness, you feel the inflammation or
infection of surrounding tissues or tired muscles from incorrect singing, not the vocal cords
themselves. That is why it is important to listen to your body and stop singing before you get to
the point of hoarseness or voice loss.
3. Resonance Tone enhancer
The throat, mouth, and nasal cavity are all parts of the vocal tract (resonance). The buzz
produced by the vibrating vocal cords (the fundamental tone) reverberates in the resonators and
enhances the tone. This resonance colors and amplifies tone.
A powerful sound can be developed with energetic breath support, and an awareness of
resonance, taking into account variables, such as age and voice type which will affect your sound
output.

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Approaching your vocal development is like an athlete. Runners dont train for a marathon in a
week or in a semester. Learning to sing is a long term commitment to becoming the best that you
can be
4. Words - Articulators
The tounge, jaw, cheeks, teeth, lips and palates coordinate to produce speech sounds. Adding
words to music makes your voice a unique musical instrument.
When your pronunciation becomes more smooth and clear, your singing tone often becomes
more relaxed and natural as a result
All basic elements of tone production are interconnected, and mastering them in order to sing
freely is the goal of understanding the singing process

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Breath Management
Training your body and unconscious mind to manage the breathing process will give you the
control you need to sing longer phrases, to sing high and low notes well, and to gain better
control over dynamics.
1. Posture
Good posture is the first step to making your body work for you because it provides alignment
that maximizes lung capacity and releases tension.
Posture that feels natural to you , even if relaxed, may not provide a high enough chest position
for effective singin.
You may need to learn what it feels like to stand with correct posture.
A collapsed chest makes it difficult to control breath when singing, it diminishes breathing
capacity.
How to establish a good posture:
1. Start with a comfortably high chest
2. Relaxed knees (not locked)
3. Feet hip-distance apart
As you become familiar with good posture, it will feel more natural to you.
Practice this in front of mirror because its easier to see good posture than to feel it when you are
starting out =)

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The picture above is showing the correct breathing management.

Inhalation:
1. When you inhale, the abdominal area will goes out and the diaphragm will descends,
therefore the area around your lung is expanded and firm
2. You can feel that your abdominal area is hard.
Exhalation:
1. When you exhale, the abdominal area will goes in and the diaphragm will ascent,
therefore the area around your lung is smaller and a bit loose
2. You can feel that your abdominal area is not as hard when you inhale.
When you do the right breath management, your shoulder should not move upwards and
downward.
Technique to know the right breath management:
1. Lay down and breathe, you will feel the right breath management naturally =)
2. Imagine there is a flower in front of you, and you try to smell it...Inhale
3. When you are yawning =)

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