Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments
regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a
singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either
with or without accompaniment by musical instruments. Singing is often done in a
group of other musicians, such as in a choir of singers with different voice
ranges, or in an ensemble with instrumentalists, such as a rock group or baroque
ensemble. As in many respects human song is a form of sustained speech, nearly
anyone able to speak can also sing. Singing can be formal or informal, arranged
or improvised.
It may be done for pleasure, comfort, ritual, education, or profit. Excellence
in singing may require time, dedication, instruction, and regular practice.
Professional singers usually build their careers around one specific musical
genre, such as classical or rock. They typically take voice training provided by
voice teachers or vocal coaches throughout their careers. Vocal technique.
Singing when done with proper vocal technique is an integrated and coordinated
act that effectively coordinates the physical processes of singing.
There are four physical processes involved in producing vocal sound:
respiration, phonation, resonation, and articulation. These processes occur in
the following sequence:
1. Breath is taken
2. Sound is initiated in the larynx
3. The vocal resonators receive the sound and influence it
4. The articulators shape the sound into recognizable units Although these four
processes are often considered separately when studied, in actual practice they
merge into one coordinated function.
With an effective singer or speaker, one should rarely be reminded of the
process involved as their mind and body are so coordinated that one only
perceives the resulting unified function. Many vocal problems result from a lack
of coordination within this process. Since singing is a coordinated act, it is
difficult to discuss any of the individual technical areas and processes without
relating them to the others.
For example, phonation only comes into perspective when it is connected with
respiration; the articulators affect resonance; the resonators affect the vocal
folds; the vocal folds affect breath control; and so forth. Vocal problems are
often a result of a breakdown in one part of this coordinated process which
causes voice teachers to frequently focus in intensively on one area of the
process with their student until that issue is resolved. However, some areas of
the art of singing are so much the result of coordinated functions that it is
hard to discuss them under a traditional heading like phonation, resonation,
articulation, or respiration.
Once the voice student has become aware of the physical processes that make up
the act of singing and of how those processes function, the student begins the
task of trying to coordinate them. Inevitably, students and teachers will become
more concerned with one area of the technique than another. The various
processes may progress at different rates, with a resulting imbalance or lack of
coordination.
The areas of vocal technique which seem to depend most strongly on the student's
ability to coordinate various functions are:
1. Extending the vocal range to its maximum potential
2. Developing consistent vocal production with a consistent tone quality
3. Developing flexibility and agility
4. Achieving a balanced vibrato |