Voice Science Works Website Flashcards
(133 cards)
1
Q
What is a simple definition of sound?
A
Interruptions in the flow of air.
2
Q
How is sound created?
A
Sound is created by vibrations, which move air particles. These particles bump into others, creating a chain reaction called sound waves.
3
Q
How do sound waves travel?
A
Sound waves move outward from the source like ripples in water.
4
Q
What happens when sound waves run out of energy?
A
The movement of air particles stops, and the sound fades away.
5
Q
What allows us to hear sound?
A
When sound waves reach our ears, they cause vibrations that our brain interprets as sound.
6
Q
What is pitch?
A
Pitch is the number of airflow interruptions per second.
7
Q
What is the relationship between pitch and frequency?
A
The higher the frequency (more interruptions per second), the higher the pitch. The lower the frequency, the lower the pitch.
8
Q
What unit is used to measure frequency?
A
Hertz (Hz), which represents the number of cycles per second.
9
Q
What is the frequency of A4?
A
440 Hz, meaning the air vibrates 440 times per second.
10
Q
What is the frequency of C6?
A
1,046 Hz, meaning the air vibrates 1,046 times per second.
11
Q
Why do small objects tend to have higher pitch sounds?
A
Small objects vibrate faster, creating higher frequency sound waves.
12
Q
A
13
Q
Why do large objects tend to have lower pitch sounds?
A
Large objects vibrate more slowly, producing lower frequency sound waves.
14
Q
What part of the body creates vocal sound?
A
The vocal folds (vocal cords) at the top of the airway.
15
Q
How do the vocal folds produce pitch?
A
During exhalation, the vocal folds come together and vibrate. The number of vibrations per second determines the pitch.
16
Q
If the vocal folds vibrate 500 times per second, what is the pitch?
A
500 Hz.
17
Q
What is the fastest recorded vibration rate of the vocal folds?
A
Over 3,000 times per second!
18
Q
What are the five key elements required for most sounds?
A
Power Source – Provides energy to start the vibration (in singing: ribs, diaphragm, and abdominals).
Oscillator – The vibrating element (in singing: vocal folds).
Resonator – The space that amplifies sound (in singing: vocal tract).
Transmitter – The medium the sound travels through (in singing: air).
Receiver – The system that interprets the sound (in singing: ears and brain).
19
Q
What is the role of the diaphragm, ribs, and abdominals in sound production?
A
They act as the power source, providing the air pressure needed to start vocal fold vibrations.
20
Q
What is the role of the vocal folds in sound production?
A
They are the oscillator, vibrating to create the sound waves.
21
Q
What is the role of the vocal tract in sound production?
A
It is the resonator, amplifying certain frequencies of the sound.
22
Q
What is the transmitter of sound in singing?
A
Air, which carries the sound waves.
23
Q
What are the receivers of sound in singing?
A
The ears and brain, which interpret the sound waves.
24
Q
What determines the pitch we perceive in singing?
A
The number of times the vocal folds vibrate per second.
25
Do the vocal folds vibrate at only one frequency at a time?
No, they vibrate at multiple frequencies simultaneously.
26
What are harmonics?
Vibrations that occur at faster frequencies than the fundamental pitch and happen simultaneously with it.
27
What is another term for harmonics?
Overtones.
28
What is the fundamental pitch?
The lowest and strongest vibration, which we identify as the pitch being sung.
29
Can harmonics be stronger than the fundamental pitch?
Yes, if they are enhanced by a resonator.
30
Do all sounds in nature contain harmonics?
Yes, all natural sounds, including those produced by the vocal folds, contain harmonics.
31
What is the only way to produce a pure sound wave without harmonics?
By using a tuning fork or an electronic synthesizer to create a sine wave.
32
What is a sine wave?
A sound wave that contains only a single frequency with no harmonics.
33
What role do harmonics play in vocal tone quality?
They add depth, richness, and color to the voice.
34
Why do different instruments or voices sound unique even when singing the same pitch?
Because each has a different harmonic structure that affects the timbre of the sound.
35
What happens when a pitch is louder (higher amplitude)?
More air molecules are being brought together and pushed apart during each cycle.
36
How does amplitude relate to loudness?
Higher amplitude means greater air pressure changes, resulting in a louder sound.
37
What happens when a pitch is higher?
Air molecules are being brought together and pushed apart more frequently each second.
38
How does the frequency of a low pitch compare to a high pitch?
A low pitch has fewer cycles per second, while a high pitch has more cycles per second.
39
Why do bass notes travel farther?
Low-frequency waves travel longer distances before completing a cycle, making them easier to hear from far away.
40
Why do high pitches often sound clearer?
High-frequency waves complete many cycles quickly, making the sound more defined.
41
What is infrasonic sound?
Sound with a frequency lower than 20 Hz, which is inaudible to humans.
42
What is ultrasonic sound?
Sound with a frequency higher than 20,000 Hz, which is also inaudible to humans.
43
How does vocal fry relate to frequency?
Vocal fry consists of very slow vibrations, making low-frequency sounds that can be perceived as individual pulses.
44
What happens when high notes reach extremely high frequencies?
They can become physically painful to the ear as they hit the eardrum thousands of times per second.
45
What is a common misconception about “projecting” the voice?
People think air molecules travel long distances, but it is actually the energy transfer between molecules that creates the sound wave.
46
What makes sound waves periodic?
They repeat the same pattern of air being pushed apart and coming back together in a cycle.
47
What are noise waves?
Aperiodic waves that do not follow a repeating pattern.
48
In speech and singing, what type of waves do vowels and consonants usually form?
Vowels are periodic (sound waves), while consonants are often aperiodic (noise waves).
49
How fast do sound waves travel?
Approximately 1,100 feet per second.
50
Through what materials can sound waves travel?
Any material that can be compressed: air, liquid, or solid.
51
How fast do light waves travel?
Approximately 186,000 miles per second.
52
What is the key difference in how sound and light waves travel?
Sound requires a medium (air, liquid, or solid), while light can travel through a vacuum (empty space).
53
What do low-frequency sound waves create?
Low notes.
54
55
What do high-frequency sound waves create?
High notes.
56
What do low-frequency light waves create?
Red light.
57
What do high-frequency light waves create?
Violet light.
58
How are radio waves related to light waves?
Radio waves are electromagnetic waves, like light, but with a lower frequency than visible light.
59
Where is the larynx located?
The larynx sits at the top of the trachea (windpipe), allowing air to travel to and from the lungs.
60
What are the primary functions of the larynx?
The primary function is to protect the airway by preventing unwanted particles from entering the lungs. Its secondary function is to create sound for speech and singing.
61
What structures make up the larynx?
The larynx consists of 3 main cartilages (one is paired), 1 bone, and 5 muscle groups.
62
How are the vocal folds attached within the larynx?
The vocal folds are attached to cartilages that can rock and glide to change their shape.
63
What are the two main actions of the vocal folds?
Opening to let air in and out (inhalation/exhalation).
Bringing together to stop airflow, protect the airway, and phonate (produce sound).
64
What happens when the vocal folds stretch?
They create higher pitches by increasing tension.
65
What happens when the vocal folds thicken?
Contribute to a "heavier" and "louder" sound.
Decrease tension, creating lower pitches.
66
What is the relationship between the opening and closing muscles of the vocal folds?
They are antagonistic, meaning when one activates, the other must release. However, both are usually active simultaneously in a rapid back-and-forth manner.
67
What are the two antagonistic muscle groups controlling vocal fold thickness and tension?
Thickening Muscle (TA - Thyroarytenoid): Shortens and thickens the folds, creating a fuller, heavier sound.
Stretching Muscle (CT - Cricothyroid): Lengthens and thins the folds, creating higher pitches.
68
What causes a voice "break" or "crack"?
An imbalance in the coordination between the thickening (TA) and stretching (CT) muscles.
69
How does muscle mass affect vocal quality?
More muscle mass touching = More harmonics = Brighter, bigger, heavier sound.
Less muscle mass touching = Fewer harmonics = Warmer, richer, purer sound.
70
What happens when acoustic back pressure does not align with breath pressure?
If bring-together muscles (LCA, IA) engage too much → "Pressed" sound.
If bring-together muscles engage too little → "Breathy" sound.
If breath and acoustic pressure are balanced → "Flow" phonation.
71
What is Maximum Flow Declination Rate (MFDR)?
The rate at which airflow stops when the vocal folds close. Faster MFDR = more energy in harmonics.
72
How do traditional vocal terms like "head voice" and "chest voice" relate to laryngeal function?
They are metaphors describing changes in muscle engagement rather than distinct physical mechanisms.
73
What happens when the thickening muscle (TA) no longer touches during vibration?
The vocal ligament takes on the strain, creating a "ligament-dominant" posture.
74
Where is the larynx located?
The larynx sits at the top of the trachea, also known as the windpipe.
75
What is the trachea?
The trachea, or windpipe, is a tube made of cartilage that allows air to travel to and from the lungs.
76
What are the vocal folds also called?
The vocal folds are also called vocal cords.
77
What is the primary function of the vocal folds?
Their main function is to protect the airway and ensure that nothing unwanted goes down the trachea into the lungs.
78
What are the main components of the larynx?
The larynx is made of:
Three main cartilages (one of which is paired)
One bone
Five muscle groups
79
How are the vocal folds attached?
The vocal folds are attached to the cartilages in the larynx.
80
How do the cartilages affect vocal fold movement?
The two main cartilages can rock and glide on top of each other, changing the shape of the vocal folds.
81
What are the three main purposes of the vocal folds closing?
Keeping unwanted particles out of the lungs
Stopping airflow
Phonation (creating sound for speaking and singing)
82
Why do the vocal folds open?
The vocal folds open to:
Let air in (inhalation/inspiration)
Let air out (exhalation/expiration)
83
How do the opening and closing muscles of the vocal folds interact?
They are antagonistic—when one activates, the other must release.
84
Are the opening and closing muscles ever inactive?
No, except in extreme cases, both are always simultaneously active, trading off rapidly.
85
What do the muscles that stretch the vocal folds do?
They:
Change the pitch of the vocal folds
Increase tension to create higher pitches
86
What do the muscles that shorten and thicken the vocal folds do?
They:
Contribute to a ‘heavier’ sound
Contribute to a ‘louder’ sound
Decrease tension to create lower pitches
87
How do the stretching and thickening muscles interact?
They are antagonistic—when one activates, the other must release.
88
Are the stretching and thickening muscles ever inactive?
No, except in extreme cases, both are always simultaneously active, trading off rapidly.
89
What is the larynx’s primary function in the body?
Its main function is to protect the airway.
90
Why does the larynx have multiple muscles that bring the vocal folds together?
To provide redundancy—if one set fails, another can take over.
91
Besides phonation, what other tasks involve vocal fold closure?
Lifting heavy objects
Defecation
Childbirth
92
How does vocal fold closure assist in heavy lifting?
If air is not allowed to escape, pressure builds in the torso, providing resistance.
93
Why do people sometimes grunt while lifting heavy objects?
The grunt is caused by a sudden release of built-up air after vocal fold closure.
94
How do the vocal folds create sound?
Muscles bring the vocal folds together, interrupting airflow from the lungs. The number of interruptions per second determines pitch.
95
Do the vocal folds vibrate themselves to create pitch?
No, the muscles position the vocal folds, but the vibration itself is caused by airflow.
96
What is the role of the Thickening Muscle (TA muscle)?
The TA muscle shortens and thickens the vocal folds, creating a heavier and richer sound.
97
How does the Thickening Muscle (TA) affect low and high notes?
Low notes: Folds vibrate slower and remain short and thick.
High notes: The folds vibrate faster, so just the edges may vibrate.
98
What common vocal coaching phrases relate to the TA muscle’s function?
“Let go as you get higher”
“Don’t push the top note”
“Turn it over, transition early”
99
What does the Stretching Muscle (CT muscle) do?
The CT muscle rocks and glides the cartilages to lengthen and thin the vocal folds, changing pitch.
100
Which muscle is dominant in most of the vocal range?
The CT stretching muscle is dominant in most people’s ranges, even in lower notes.
101
What happens when the Thickening (TA) and Stretching (CT) muscles don’t trade off properly?
The voice may crack or break due to poor muscle coordination.
102
Why do some new singers struggle with high notes?
They rarely use the CT muscle in speech, so it is less developed.
103
What is the role of the vocal ligament?
The vocal ligament bears significant pressure and contributes to phonation across a large range.
104
What traditional terms describe vocal registers?
"Head voice" and "chest voice."
105
What event causes a "break" in the voice?
A shift between muscle-dominant and ligament-dominant vocal fold function.
106
How can singers reduce the impact of the vocal break?
By learning to coordinate the TA and CT muscles smoothly.
107
What is "breathy" phonation?
A posture where the vocal folds do not close completely, leading to air leakage.
108
What is "pressed" phonation?
A posture where the vocal folds close too forcefully, causing a harsh tone.
109
What is "flow" phonation?
A balanced posture where breath pressure and vocal fold closure are well-coordinated.
110
What is adduction in terms of vocal fold function?
Adduction is when the vocal folds come together, allowing for vocal fold closure, which is necessary for singing.
111
What is abduction in terms of vocal fold function?
Abduction is when the vocal folds pull apart, allowing for vocal fold opening, which is necessary for breathing.
112
How many muscle groups in the larynx are responsible for vocal fold closure?
Four out of the five muscle groups in the larynx are responsible for closing the vocal folds.
113
What happens when the vocal folds are less adducted?
More air escapes, and the sound may be perceived as "breathy."
114
What happens when the vocal folds have more adduction?
More upper harmonics will be present in the sound, making it richer and fuller.
115
What is the glottis?
The glottis is the slit-like opening between the vocal folds where they meet together.
116
What does a "pressed," "forced," or "tight" vocal sound indicate?
The TA (thickening) muscle may be too active, causing excessive vocal fold closure or squeezing.
117
What vocal exercises can help reduce excessive vocal fold adduction?
Lip trill with just air → Lip trill with sound (Notice the transition from air to sound—should be easy, not forceful.)
Spoken exercises: "Wwwwwait a minute," "Wwwelll Well Well" (Notice the ease of the 'w' sound.)
Storytelling exercise: Read a sentence as if telling a story to a child.
Sighs (Encourage relaxation in the larynx.)
Vocal fry (Encourages gentle onset and relaxation.)
118
What does a "breathy," "weak," or "airy" vocal sound indicate?
The muscle groups responsible for closing the vocal folds may not be active enough, allowing extra air to escape through the glottis.
119
What vocal exercises can help increase vocal fold adduction?
MiuMiuMiu (Encourages vocal fold closure.)
MiamMiamMiam (Uses nasal resonance to bring folds together.)
Ngggggg (Nasality increases fold closure.)
GangGangGang (Encourages firm phonation.)
Glides through a straw (Back pressure helps fold adduction.)
120
What does a "voice break" or "crack" when transitioning from low to high notes indicate?
An imbalance in the trade-off between the stretching (CT) and thickening (TA) muscles.
121
What vocal exercises can help smooth vocal transitions?
Slow slides on a lip trill, hum, or straw phonation (Encourages gradual muscle transition.)
Think about the highest note before singing (Encourages early muscle adjustment.)
Early preparation and transitioning (Reduces sudden shifts in muscle trade-off.)
122
What does a sensation of "reaching" or "pushing" when singing high notes indicate?
The stretching/thinning muscle (CT) may not be active enough.
123
How does activating the CT muscle make high notes easier?
When the vocal folds are allowed to stretch and vibrate on their edges, high notes feel easier and less strained.
124
What vocal exercises can help with high notes?
Puppy whines (Engages the CT muscle gently.)
Whimper or whine (e.g., "I don’t wannaaaaaa") (Encourages thin fold vibration.)
Elf giggles ("hoo hoo hoo") (Activates light, high-frequency phonation.)
Imagining a tiny, easy sound (Encourages efficient fold stretching.)
125
How is training the voice similar to athletic training?
Singing and speaking require muscle coordination, just like athletic activities.
126
How is training the voice different from other athletic training?
Unlike some athletic activities, vocal training focuses on coordination rather than strength.
127
Would having large, bulked-up laryngeal muscles help singing?
No, because singing relies on neural coordination rather than pure muscle mass.
128
What part of the body can singers physically feel during phonation?
Sensations in the jaw, tongue, neck, and pharynx—though these muscles are not responsible for vocal fold movement.
129
Can singers directly feel or control the muscles inside the larynx?
No, the muscles inside the larynx cannot be felt or directly controlled.
130
What is the transition between Mode 1 and Mode 2?
A singular event where the vocal mechanism shifts from chest-dominant (Mode 1) to head-dominant (Mode 2) function.
131
Can singers learn to control when their Mode 1–Mode 2 transition occurs?
Yes, with training, singers can learn to adjust the transition point in their range.
132
What is the most important factor in improving vocal function?
Muscle coordination, rather than muscle strength, is the key to better singing.
133
How can targeted vocal exercises improve singing?
By focusing on specific muscle groups, exercises can enhance coordination and reduce fatigue.
