Friday, April 11, 2014

Elizabeth Tait McKinney Ch. 8


What is McKinney’s definition of Resonance?  (First sentence of chapter) The process by which the basic product of phonation is enhanced in timbre and/or intensity by the air-filled cavities through which it passes on its way to the outside air.    
What is the end point (the purpose) of resonation?  To make a better sound
Define the 2 basic kinds of resonance.  Sympathetic and Conductive
Describe how conductive resonance works in singing. Most of the resonance you feel when singing is conductive, vibrations from vocal folds traveling to the bones, cartilages, and muscles.  But these resonances contribute little to the external sound
Describe how sympathetic resonance works in singing.   This comprises the large majority of the external sound.  It’s the vocal folds vibrating the column of air that travels out of the oral cavity.
What are the factors that determine the resonance characteristics of a resonator?
size
shape
type of opening
composition and thickness of the walls
surface
combine resonators
If a resonator is larger, in general, what will happen to its resonant frequency? The lower the frequency it will respond to.
Which pitches does a conical shaped resonator amplify?  Tends to amplify all pitches indiscriminately
In a cylindrical resonator, which parameter is the primary pitch determiner? The length of the tube
In what ways can the opening of a spherical resonator affect resonant pitch?  The amount of opening it has, and whether that opening has a lip.
What 3 factors relating to the walls of a resonator will affect how it functions? 
the material it is made of
the thickness of its walls
the type of surface it has
How does the hardness/softness of the surface of a resonator affect how it functions?  The harder the surface, the more selective it will be
What happens to the resonant frequency of a resonator when it is combined with another? In general, it may be said that the effect will be to lower the resonant frequency of each in different proportions according to their capacities, orifices, and so forth. 
What are the 7 POSSIBLE vocal resonators?
Chest
tracheal tree
larynx
pharynx
oral cavity
nasal cavity
sinuses
Why does McKinney consider the pharynx the most important resonator?  Due to its position, size, and degree of adjustability
Why does McKinney consider the oral cavity the 2nd most important resonator?  It is well suited by location, size, and adjustability.  The oral cavity creates vowels and consonants as well. 

Vibrations in the nasal cavity are the ­­­­­____result_____________ not the ________cause____________
of the sound you are producing.
What are the 3 primary resonators? Pharynx, oral cavity, and nasal cavity. 
What are the optimal conditions in the vocal resonators for classical singing? The prime position for the larynx is low, but it stays stable during phonation.  Open throat (whatever that means) is another one. Raise the soft palate.  Lip position is important too.
What are the favorable conditions for creating the Singer’s Formant (Sundberg)
1. Lowering the larynx
2. Widening of the laryngeal ventricle
3. Widening of the pyriform sinuses
Describe the 2 categories of faults related to nasal resonance.
1. Excessive nasal resonance (hypernasality)
2. insufficient nasl resonanace (hypo nasality)
What is postnasality?  What is another name for it? hypernasality
What is forced nasality?  What is another name for it? hyponasality
What is denasality?
What are some causes of a sound that is too bright?
What are some causes of a sound that is too dark?

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