Summary: Healthy voice use is somewhat dependent upon healthy hearing, and understanding of how the ear operates. In creating pitch, the lower the pitch, the less energy it requires to create the same decibel level. This explains why there are more lower pitched instruments in an ensemble than higher pitched instruments. This is one reason to not sing high notes too forcefully. Another is the way that you hear your own vocalization. A muscle in the ear, called the tensor tympani protects your own ears against loud sounds. That muscle is activated especially during the singing of high notes. Therefore, what may not sound loud enough to our own ears will be plenty loud for the audience. As a musician it is also important to protect your hearing against damage. Many locations in the urban environment can have dangerously loud noises, so it is important to protect your ears against damage.
Key Terms:
tensor tympani
auditory fatigue
diplacusis
Key Concepts: The hearing of our own singing can not always tell us the absolute truth. That is why we must trust other teachers and recordings as well as our own instincts in making judgments about our voice.
Making Connections: This chapter was very useful in helping me understand why I am mentally struggling with high D's. I think I will be able to relax into singing them more now (hopefully relax in an energized and good way.)
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