Monthly Articles

The Vocal Coach

The Vocal Coach - May 05

Sometimes you will hear a soft breathy sound when a singer sings. We are going to discuss what makes this sound and how to correct this problem. This may not be your vocal problem but the things that can cause it could still effect your vocal health.

Breathiness is caused when the vocal bands aren't touching properly. The vocal bands meet each other three dimensionally. They close from back to front and from bottom to top in a wave like motion. As this complex action occurs, some adjacent portion of the vocal bands may not arrive at the midpoint at the same time, so they do not meet properly. There can be several reasons for this improper aliment and that is what we will explore.

The breathy sound can be produced when the vocalis muscles are weak. The bands fail to resist the breath pressure and will allow the breath to escape without producing sound. Some singers think that a quite breathy sound is more genteel. Thus, the vocalis muscles have never developed to their potential.

An excess of air is inherent in many young voices because all their laryngeal muscles do not develop at the same rate. The muscles inside the larynx suddenly and dramatically outgrow those outside the larynx. Therefore, a young singer may not be able to coordinate the muscles which make the vocal bands close improperly. Such improper aliment of the vocal bands will disappear with maturity in most cases.

If the vocal bands are swollen from irritation from allergies, infection, or misuse, they will not aline properly. You will need to see your doctor before you continue to sing. Swollen vocal bands may eventually develop a callous or corn like a blister at the points where there is friction or abuse. These nodules, or nodes, must be treated by a throat specialist. Complete vocal rest for six to eight weeks may be prescribed, along with medication, to see if the vocal nodules will heal by themselves. In very sever cases, surgery is sometimes necessary to remove the calloused tissue, but is generally the last resort. If the nodules were caused by misuse of the voice, a speech therapist will be recommended. The therapist will help correct improper speaking habits and those same techniques can be applied to your singing.

Another cause for the breathy sound is improper breathing and support, a dysfunction in the way the singer uses the larynx, and incorrect singing of the vowel sounds.

When these problems are improved upon you, will begin to hear a fuller, and better tone quality produced.

This is the part you have been waiting on for months now! The suspense is over!

We have formed an Association for bi-vocational singers. It is called "BEAM." That stands for "Building and Educating Artists in Ministry." We will start taking memberships very soon. Our first Board meeting took place in Nashville, TN on April the 18th. This was a very exciting day for all of us. This is the beginning of something that has been needed for along time. It is our hope to have a unity between the bi-vocational artist and network our resources in and effort to be more effective for the cause of Christ. We have great things planned for the members and especially the Charter Members that will sign up the first year. If you are interested in receiving a membership form you may email your address to me and I will see to it that you will be the first to get them. Look for more information on "BEAM" in all of the publications in the near future.

Until next time, keep singing His praises

Marti