Dear Students,
I hope everyone had a fun and restful Thanksgiving holiday. It’s hard to believe that it is already December! This month, we will continue our discussion of cross-training multiple genres of singing. Last month, we discussed considerations for posture and respiration while singing different genres. This month, we will address phonation/registration and resonance.
Registration/ Phonation
Phonation refers to the muscular process of air moving past the vocal folds to produce sound. To phonate, the singer opens the vocal folds, allowing air to freely enter the lungs as an inhale, and then closes the vocal folds and exhales, pushing air through the closed vocal folds. The vibration of the vocal folds, as air moves past them, creates the sound of our voices.
The primary vocal registers (head voice, chest voice, and mix) are created by different configurations of the vocal folds. To create the head voice (also known as falsetto) the vocal folds are thin and relaxed, while in chest voice (which is the same register as our speaking or yelling voice) the vocal folds are thick and engaged. In a head-dominant mix, the vocal folds are slightly engaged but still fairly thin, creating a fuller head voice sound. In a chest-dominant mix, the vocal folds are engaged but stretched thinner to reach higher pitches, creating a dramatic, emotional, whiney sound.
In classical/opera singing, registrational choices vary based on voice type; tenors, baritones, and basses will mostly sing in chest or chest-mix, but sopranos, altos, and mezzo sopranos will mostly sing in head or head-mix with occasional use of pure chest voice for the lowest notes. In classical singing, the priority is smooth, nearly inaudible transitions between registers. In contrast, in pop/rock singing most voice types will move across the registers and will extend the chest-mixed voice quite high, such as for belt singing. In folk or country-influenced styles, the break between registers is actually highlighted to create a yodeling sound. Musical Theater styles tend to vary considerably – some are classically influenced, some jazz influenced, and some pop-rock influenced. Therefore, registrational decisions are determined by the style of music within the musical.
There are additional tonal effects that occur based on the vocal fold closure. If the vocal folds are pressed together tightly, this creates a pressed sound and a straight (non-vibrato) tone in sustained notes. If they are pressed together very loosely, this creates a breathy sound. And if they’re pressed together firmly but gently, this creates a clear, balanced sound (and, if the note is sustained, vibrato will naturally emerge). Airflow will increase or decrease relative to the tightness of the vocal fold closure to maintain a stable sound and control projection.
In classical/ opera singing, the priority is efficient singing that projects easily. Therefore, the standard is balanced phonation with prominent, consistent vibrato, which allows the singer to produce the most volume with the least amount of effort. In choral singing, straight tone is often a desired aesthetic, which necessitates a tighter vocal fold closure (in conjunction with thinner vocal folds) to prevent vibrato. Pop/rock singers employ a variety of vocal fold closure configurations depending on the desired sound. The intense chest or chest-mix sound required for belting requires tighter vocal fold closer. Additionally, pop/rock singers may add a breathy sound (most recently popularized by Billie Eilish!). Singers can get additional vocal effects that show up in pop/rock by sending air through loosely closed vocal chords to create vocal fry or through the pharyngeal tissues to create growl. These are both examples of “noise” – non-pitched sound that can be used to enhance the sound.
Musical theater choices additionally tend to vary depending on the aesthetic of the particular show; an older show, such as Carousel or a more classically based show, such as Phantom of the Opera would require a more operatic sound, while a pop/rock show like Spring Awakening will require a pop/rock sound. Musical theatre choices also tend to vary by range, as a singer may need to employ the efficiency of vibrato and a balanced closure to achieve high notes.
In summary:
| Registers | Vocal Fold Closure | Additional effects |
Opera/classical | Depend on voice type/ smooth transitions are a priority | Balanced, with vibrato – acoustic efficiency is a priority | Clear tone, emotional storytelling in the tone is a priority |
Choral | Depend on voice type/ smooth transitions are a priority | Balanced, less vibrato – can be softer as acoustic efficiency is less of a priority | Clear tone |
Pop/rock | Extended chest-mix is common, transitions are often highlighted | Varies a lot for belt, scream, fry, breathy singing techniques. | Vocal fry, breathiness or growl used to enhance the tone and convey strong emotion. |
Musical Theater | Depends on the style, but belt singing (chest-mix) is VERY common. | Depends on the style, but strong vocal fold closure is necessary for belting. | Emotional storytelling in the tone is a priority |
Next week, we will discuss genre in the context of resonance and articulation/pronunciation. Have you noticed any differences in registration and phonation when you’ve sung in different genres? What questions do you have regarding cross-training singing genres? Leave a comment or shoot me an email, I’d love to hear from you!
And please have a safe, healthy, and joyous holiday season!!
Warmly,
Dr. Jane
Comentarios