Summary: Brown argues that understanding the physical mechanisms of the larynx will improve our singing and teaching. The larynx is one of the most complex and versatile mechanisms in the body. It plays many roles - protecting and regulating the airways, helping with body movement, and phonation. The diverse actions require diverse parts, so the larynx is made up of many cartilages and muscles. The three large cartilages (the thyroid, cricoid, and epiglottis) are suspended from the hyoid bone. The intrinsic muscles manipulate the cartilages and vocal folds to enable phonation, swallowing, etc. The vocal cords can lengthen, shorten, thicken, and thin out to make different pitches. Extrinsic muscles primarily help move the hyoid bone up or down, forward or backward. The positioning of the entire body and tension in the body effect singing because everything is connected. In order to free the voice, these muscles must be free.
Key Concepts: The voice is a living instrument, and a knowledge of our own anatomy can help us locate and fix anatomically related vocal issues. Everything in our body is connected, so tension in our bodies affects the way our larynx operates, and thus affects the voice.
Making Connections: This chapter was a nice review of the anatomical concepts we've learned thus far. Brown puts things so simply, it's much easier to understand when I read this. It's fascinating how delicate this process is! And most people have no idea it's happening! I think it's funny. It also explains why singers are so "delicate." So much can go wrong in there!
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