Artificially lengthened and constricted vocal tract in vocal training methods

Abstract

It is common practice in vocal training to make use of vocal exercise techniques that involve partial occlusion of the vocal tract. Various techniques are used; some of them form an occlusion within the front part of the oral cavity or at the lips. Another vocal exercise technique involves lengthening the vocal tract; for example, the method of phonation into small tubes. This essay presents some studies made on the effects of various vocal training methods that involve an artificially lengthened and constricted vocal tract. The influence of sufficient acoustic impedance on vocal fold vibration and economical voice production is presented.

Efeitos imediatos do exercício vocal sopro e som agudo

“…The results pointed out higher comfort at phonation with a clear, strong and easier voice. The prescription of these exercises has been done in several situations: negative supra glottic involvement, post-surgery of larynx lesions, reduction of impact between vocal folds, vocal improvement (2,17) , and vocal warming up (2,17,25) .…”

Investigação de efeitos imediatos de dois exercícios de trato vocal semi-ocluído

“…It is expected that the subject may be able to perceive the economic vocal production and to use it in the habitual speech or singing, that is, in vocal production situations that are different from the exercise situation. The finger kazoo and the phonation with straw could be included in vocal warming programs, for example (2,4,5). The partial lip occlusion and vocal tract lengthening could be used during practices of emphasis and intonation (2).…”

“…Several authors studied the effects of ESOVT and reported, for example changes in the fundamental frequency (Fo) and positive changes in subjects with vocal cords mass lesions (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10). However the effects of these exercises are still slightly known since the focus of the studies have been the use of computerized models and observation only during the performance of the exercises.…”

“…Techniques as lip or tongue vibration, bilabial fricatives, labial constriction, prolonged "B" exercise, glottis hardening and tube phonation are considered ESOVT and facilitate source-philter interaction reducing the risks of vibration trauma. These exercises have been suggested in different situations: cases of vocal disorders, subjects with normal voices that whish clearer or sounder voices or to the vocal warmingup (2)(3)(4)(5).…”

Immediate effects of the phonation into a straw exercise

“…In principle, acoustic impedance of the vocal tract may change voice function in two levels: acoustic-dynamic interaction, and mechanical-acoustic interaction -the interactions between pressures in the vocal tract and vibration of the vocal folds. Partial constriction of the vocal tract with a straw is accompanied by a reactive type inertance that facilitates self maintenance of vocal fold vibrations by reducing the phonation pressure threshold [3][4][5][6] . The literature contains a few studies that have investigated the effects of phonation with SOVTE, such as changes in the fundamental frequency (F 0 ) and positive changes with improved voice performance, resulting in utterances with minimal effort and maximal efficiency.…”