03/28/2025
FYI:
Characteristic Vocal Issues From Singing in the Wrong Voice Category: An Outline for Teachers and Singers
One major aspect of teaching is the responsibility of every singing teacher to learn to hear voice types. It takes intense study of acoustical characteristics, registration, tesssitura, timbre, and resulting color with the physical release of the laryngeal muscles to train the ear to hear voice types.
Problems from Lower Voices Training as Higher Voices
1. High larynx position.
2. Narrowing of the sternocleidomastoid muscles.
3. Forward thrust of the jaw.
4. Nasality instead of nasal resonance.
5. Loss of high range and low range.
6. Shrillness replacing ring in the upper register.
7. Wide or spread embouchure.
8. Lack of healthy vocal cord closure.
Issues of High Voices Trained as Lower Voices
1. Tongue-root depression, placing pressure on the larynx and at the glottis (vocal cords).
2. Loss of high range.
3. Narrowing of the tongue shape.
4. Loss of high overtones, making it difficult to sing longer phrases on one breath.
5. Tucking or pulling the head downward, depressing the larynx with the jaw.
6. Pulled down facial posture.
7. General vocal fatigue.
8. Lack of healthy vocal cord closure from hyper-extension of the sternocleidomastoid muscles.
These are general outlines and do not particularly represent characteristics of every singer trained in the incorrect vocal category.
Final Note: It is critically important for every singing to find their true voice category in order to establish and sustain vocal health and vocal longevity.
Have a good day. David
David Jones' Book, "A Modern Guide to Old World Singing" is available at www.amazon.com, www.amazon.de, www.thebookdepository.com, www.barnesandnoble.com and the ebook at www.ebooks.com
David Jones' instructional CD is available at www.voiceteacher.com as a download only.
03/09/2024