Emily F. McKinney 6

Emily F. McKinney 6

List 5 usages for the term register. 1-particular part of the vocal range (upper, middle, lower), 2-resonance area (chest/head) 3-phonatory process, 4-certain timbre, 5-region of voice defined by vocal breaks.

What are the 3 elements of the definition of register? 1-a certain vibratory pattern of the vocal folds, 2-certain series of pitches, 3-certain type of sound

All registers originate in laryngeal function. 

 

The terms head voice and chest voice are more legitimate as descriptions of resonance sensations.

Many of the problems identified as register problems are really problems of resonance adjustment.

 

According to McKinney, what are the 4 distinct vibratory forms (registers)? modal voice, vocal fry, falsetto, whistle

For each register, summarize what you have learned about it.  Include information about

1.      vibratory pattern

vocal fry--loose glottal closure, allowing air to bubble through w/low frequency

modal voice--determined by vocal folds' length, tension, mass; fluid adjustments of vf, with wave-like motion of vibration
falsetto--only ligamentous edges of vfs vibrate
whistle--passage of air between triangular opening between arytenoid cartilages 

2.      pitch range

           vocal fry--below modal voice register
           modal voice--normal register for speaking and singing
           falsetto--above and overlapping modal voice
           whistle--above female falsetto

3.      characteristic sound

vocal fry--popping or rattling sound at low frequency
modal voice--broad harmonic spectrum
falsetto--inherently breathy and flute-like with few overtones
whistle--like a whistle--sinusoidal wave form without prominent overtones

4.      uses

vocal fry--singing very low notes in choral pieces, not available in modal voice; therapeutically for singers having trouble producing low notes
modal voice--speaking and singing
falsetto--for 1st tenors in male choirs, yodeling, comic effect, by some tenors, by falsettists, for pitches above modal register, for singing pianissimo, vocal development
whistle--to access pitches above modal or falsetto by sopranos 

In modal register, how is frequency controlled? by length, tension, and mass of the vocal folds

 

Sometimes singers/voice teachers mistakenly identify an area of vocal problems as a register break.  What is often more likely the issue? vocal problems created by static laryngeal adjustments

What is the shape of the vocal folds for the lowest tones? thick, wedge-shaped

What is one of the primary reasons for vocalizing in falsetto? to aid the development of the upper range of the modal range

What are the essential differences between modal and falsetto? in modal voice, whole vocal fold is involved in vibratory process; in falsetto, only ligamentous portion vibrates; vocalis muscle isn't involved in falsetto, and there is no vertical phase difference in the folds because there is almost no height to the fold at that point

Describe the different ways that singers produce falsetto? 1-the back 1/3 chink can be left open, with the front 2/3 vibrating, 2-full length of glottis is engaged in vibration, 3-damping--smaller glottal opening

Most professional singers have at least an octave range where modal and falsetto overlap.  

Why is it sometimes hard to tell whether a female singer is singing in modal or falsetto? timbre and dynamic differences are harder to differentiate between falsetto and modal in female voices, because of length and mass of vfs, and because of frequency range