Anatomical bits and pieces

A few days ago I was sitting at the back of the latest Vocal Process course (Vocal Anatomy for Voice Professionals) typing this.

Dr Meribeth Bunch Dayme has come over from France to pass on her knowledge of vocal anatomy and physiology, and its application in singing and speaking. Both Gillyanne and I have taken this course ourselves before, and it is fascinating to watch our clients as they build the complex structures mentally.

And physically - since Meribeth makes them build their own out of modelling clay. Normally we use clay-coloured clay, but we decided to buy in some multi-coloured clay, and the resultant larynges are pretty psychedelic. I'm hoping to get some pictures of them in the next Vocal Process eZINE.

Part of Meribeth's course includes a viewing of the Van den Berg video, made almost 60 years ago. The video was filmed in the Netherlands, and shows a real larynx (the owner is actually dead, so he won't miss it). The surgeons making the film have cut the larynx out of the body and are showing what it is made of, how it is put together and how it works. It is absolutely fascinating (once you get over the initial slight queasiness) to see all the bits that go to make up the voice box and its workings.

The mechanism that goes to make up the human voice is truly complex, and that's why singing teachers disagree so much about what is happening, how it happens and also what is "good", "right" and "healthy".

The different structures in the larynx move both independently and interdependently, and the Van den Berg film shows what happens when one set of muscles is tensed (they are pulled by strings, but don't let that put you off the idea).

It's only when you see the larynx in action that you realise how complex (and how separate from "emotion") the physical act of singing is. It's one of the reasons I made my video endoscopy films available to everyone. But more about those in the next blog.

Visit http://www.vocalprocess.co.uk for the latest downloads:
the Vocal Process eZINE (free electronic magazine)
86 things you never hear a singer say (free ebook)
Looking at a Voice (endoscopy video download)
Constriction and Release (opening the throat on video - the latest endoscopy video download)

Vocal Process is running a new course in October:
Singing and the Actor Training with Gillyanne Kayes and Jeremy Fisher is based on Gillyanne's groundbreaking book on non-classical vocal techniques.