Voice Mechanics - Kelly Kerr Vocal Method

Module 1	Welcome!
Unit 1	Welcome!
Module 2	Lesson One - How Your Voice is Produced. First release movements.
Unit 1	Lesson One Introduction
Unit 2	Optimum Tempo
Unit 3	Voice Mechanics
Unit 4	Home Position
Unit 5	Stance
Unit 6	Home Position Exercise
Unit 7	Lesson One Summary
Unit 8	Cheeks
Module 3	Lesson One Vocal Workouts
Unit 1	Vocal Workout - Home Position
Unit 2	Vocal Workout 1
Unit 3	Home Position
Module 4	Lesson Two - Breathing Basics
Unit 1	Breathing Basics – Lecture
Unit 2	The Breathing Cycle
Unit 3	How to Inhale and Exhale
Unit 4	Breath Control
Unit 5	Top of the Breath
Unit 6	Comfortable Full
Unit 7	Stillness at the Top of the Breath
Unit 8	How to maintain an open throat at the top of the breath
Unit 9	Breathing in the Mask
Unit 10	Basic Breathing Techniques
Unit 11	Breathing Basics Summary Exercise
Unit 12	Summary Breathing Basics
Unit 13	Breathing Basics Exercises
Module 5	Lesson Three - How to Find Your Real Voice
Unit 1	Lesson Three Lecture
Unit 2	Initiating the Tone
Unit 3	Inside Voice
Unit 4	Inside Voice Pitch Line
Unit 5	Tuning the Vocal Instrument
Unit 6	Sustain pitch: 110hz, 220hz, 440hz
Unit 7	Lesson Three Summary
Unit 8	Lesson Three Exercises
Unit 9	Vocalise Top of the Breath
Module 6	Lesson Four - Jaw, Face and the Middle Voice
Unit 1	The Middle Voice Range
Unit 2	Facial Mask Workout
Unit 3	Siren Exercise
Unit 4	Vocalise Sustained A
Unit 5	Nose and Sinuses
Unit 6	Jaw
Unit 7	Head Placement
Unit 8	Mid Head to Chest Relationship
Module 7	Lesson Five - Posture - Vocal Exercises to Tune and Tone the Voice
There are no units in this module.
Module 8	Lesson Six - Tuning and Toning the Singing Voice
There are no units in this module.

In this unit:

Sound
How Your Voice is Produced

Welcome!

In this lesson you will learn how your voice is produced and the basic movements that begin each vocal practice.

You will learn how to release vocal tension and the most effective movements to unlock and strengthen your true voice.

How Your Voice is Produced

Your voice is made in the upper third of your body, from the larynx and into the mouth, chest, and head.

This area contains the core of your vocal mechanism. Thus we call it your, "Vocal Core."

The rest of the body supports and amplifies the sound waves created in the vocal core.

Larynx

At the top of your trachea sits the sound producing part of your vocal instrument: the Larynx.

Inside the larynx are your vocal folds (also called "vocal cords"). The air from your lungs vibrates causes your vocal folds to vibrate into sound waves.

Pitch

The muscles and ligaments connected to the vocal folds stretch and contract the vocal folds to change from high to low pitch.

When the vocal folds contract, they are shorter, thicker, and vibrate the air at a slower rate, causing a lower pitch.

When the vocal folds are stretched, they become thinner and vibrate the air at a faster rate, causing a higher pitch.

After the air is sounded in the larynx, the sound waves move to spaces inside of your vocal core in a consistent path:

High pitches move to higher spaces within your vocal core, and lower pitches move to lower spaces within your vocal core.

Resonance = Volume

After the air is sounded in the larynx, the sound waves move to spaces inside of your vocal core in a consistent path:

High pitches move to higher spaces within your vocal core, and lower pitches move to lower spaces within your vocal core.

The Thread of the Voice

When your body is properly aligned, your voice moves from high to low, low to high pitches in one long, unbroken line of sound.

We call this unbroken vocal pitch line the, “Thread of the Voice”.

The thread of the voice is your most healthy, core sound. It is the foundation upon which the mightiest voice tones are built.

The thread of the voice is also called the, "Inside Pitch Line."

Breath Support

After the initial sound is made in the vocal core, the lower 2/3rds of your body provides a cushion of breath pressure underneath to "Support" the vocal core.

We call this lower body breath pressure, "Breath Support."

Parts of the Vocal Core

Today we will identify the most important points within your vocal core and how to place each into a relaxed position.

These new positions will allow your vocal mechanism to unwind from old, unhealthy habits that have likely caused vocal strain and limited your full vocal abilities.

You will be surprised that such small movements can create such positive results. When these points within the vocal core are relaxed, your body easily opens and expands to support a much fuller, more pleasant and pain-free vocal sound.

Summary

Your "Voice" is created when air passes over your vocal folds. The vocal folds vibrate the air, causing it to make sound.
The sound vibrations then move into spaces inside of your upper body where they reverberate and amplify the volume.
The reverberating spaces for your voice correspond to the high and low pitch of the sound: Low pitches move to lower reverberating spaces in the vocal core and higher pitches move to higher reverberating spaces.
When the body is properly aligned, the pitches move in an unbroken line of sound.
This unbroken line is called either, "The Thread of the Voice" or "The Inside Pitch Line."
The lower 2/3rds of the body provides a cushion of breath pressure called, "Breath Support".

Vocabulary

AMPLIFY - To increase the volume of a sound or vibration.
BREATH SUPPORT - Breath and Air pressure underneath the sound created in the vocal core. The upper third of the body creates the initial vocal sound while the remaining two thirds of your body also contains breath and air pressure to support the vocal core.
INSIDE PITCH LINE - When your body is properly aligned, your voices moves from high to low, low to high pitches in one long, unbroken line of sound. Also called the, "Thread of the Voice."
PARTS OF THE VOCAL CORE - The most critical parts of the vocal mechanism: Head, eyes, sinuses, mouth, tongue, jaw, larynx, chest.
PITCH - The low and high perception of sound waves. Slow and lower sound waves create low pitches. Higher, faster sound waves are higher in pitch.
RESONANCE - Acoustic resonance is a phenomenon where acoustic systems amplify sound waves whose frequency matches one of its own natural frequencies of vibration (its resonance frequencies).
REVERBERATION - A reechoed sound. Sound waves bouncing or echoing in a resonant space.
SOUND - The vibration of air with in the range of 20 to 20,000 pulses per second causes the air to become audible as sound.
SUPPORT - There are two kinds of support for the voice: Breath Support and Structural Support. Both give strength to sound first produced in the Vocal Core
STRUCTURAL SUPPORT - Proper posture and stance create the structure "Support" for the voice.
SWELLTo increase the size of the breath or sound.
THREAD OF THE VOICE - When your body is properly aligned, your voices moves from high to low, low to high pitches in one long, unbroken line of sound. Also called the, "Inside Pitch Line."
VOCAL CORE - The upper third of the body, from the chest to the head, where the voice is first produced.

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