VoSci Lexicon

5 Layer Scheme

The Five Layer Scheme is a breakdown of the different layers of the vocal folds. The innermost part is the thyroarytenoid muscle, then the three...

Abdomen

The abdomen is the region of the body located between the chest (thorax) and the pelvis. It contains vital organs such as the stomach, liver,...

Abdominal Breathing

Abdominal Breathing is frequently seen as the “proper way to breathe”. Focus is placed on the expansion of the abdomen. This breathing method allows...

Abdominal Viscera

Abdominal viscera refers to the organs located within the abdominal cavity, including the stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, gallbladder, and...

Abduction

Vocal Fold Abduction is the separation of the vocal folds away from the center line. The Posterior Cricoarytenoid muscles are the abductors for the...

Acoustics

Acoustics is the branch of physics concerned with the study of sound, its generation, transmission, and effects. It encompasses various aspects of...

Adduction

Vocal fold abduction refers to the movement of the vocal folds away from the midline of the larynx, resulting in the widening of the glottis, which...

Air

Air is a mixture of gases primarily composed of approximately 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and small amounts of other gases such as carbon dioxide,...

Airflow

Airflow refers to the movement of air through the respiratory system during inhalation, exhalation, or phonation. Airflow is typically measured in...

Alveolar Ridge

The Alveolar Ridge is the hard ridge between the upper teeth and the hard palate or behind the bottom teeth. Usually used to refer to the top...

Alveoli (Pulmonary)

Pulmonary alveoli are small, grape-like structures located at the end of the bronchioles in the lungs. These tiny air sacs are responsible for...

Amplitude

Amplitude refers to the maximum extent of a sound wave’s vibration, typically measured as the height of the wave from its equilibrium position to its...

Anterior

Anterior describes a position or location that is toward the front of the body or an organ. It is the opposite of posterior, which refers to the back...

Appoggio

The Italian term appoggio (literally “leaning” or “I lean”) describes a coordinated breath management system central to...

Aryepiglottic Fold

The Aryepiglottic Folds extend between the arytenoid cartilages and the lateral margins of the epiglottis, aiding in the prevention of aspiration by...

Aspirate Onset/Offset

Aspirate Onsets/Offsets happen when airflow begins before the closure (adduction) of the vocal folds (onset). The end of phonation occurs when the...

Attenuation

Attenuation refers to the gradual reduction in intensity or strength of a signal as it travels through a medium (typically air) or encounters an...

Audible Range

The Audible Range is the range of frequencies that the human ear can perceive. For the average human this range is about 20 to 20,000 hertz, this...

Average Speaking Frequencies

Average Speaking Frequencies refer to the typical fundamental frequency (F₀) ranges produced during conversational speech, measured in Hertz (Hz)....

Back Vowels

The Back Vowels are [u] [o] [ɔ] [ʊ] [ɑ] and they are produced with the highest point of the tongue towards the back of the mouth. These vowels are...

Bel Canto

Bel canto (Italian: “beautiful singing”) refers to both a refined method of vocal production and any musical style employing that...

Belting

Belt or Belting is a thicker, heavier, brassier, brighter, twangier vocal style of production for female singers, representing most female vocal...

Bernoulli Effect

The Bernoulli Effect, named after the Swiss mathematician Daniel Bernoulli, refers to a principle within fluid dynamics that states that an increase...

Blade of the Tongue

The Blade of the Tongue is the front of the tongue right behind the tip of the tongue. Along with the Dorsom, the Blade is responsible for the...

Boyle’s Law

Boyle’s Law is a fundamental principle in physics that describes the relationship between the pressure and volume of a gas at a constant temperature....

Breathiness

Breathiness in singing refers to a vocal quality characterized by the audible passage of breath during phonation. It can be described as lacking...

Bronchi

The bronchus or bronchi are the two main air passages that branch off from the trachea and lead into the lungs. They further divide into smaller...

Catacoustics

Catacoustics is the branch of acoustics dealing with echoes and reflected sounds, also sometimes referred to as cataphonics. Typically, however, it...

Centimeters of Water

Centimeters of water is a unit of pressure measurement. It is used to quantify pressure in terms of the height of a column of water. One centimeter...

Cents

Cents, in the context of music and sound, are a unit of measurement used to quantify the difference in pitch between two frequencies. One cent is...

Cervical Spine

The cervical spine, also known as the neck region of the spine, consists of seven vertebral bones labeled as C1 to C7. It is a crucial part of the...

Chaos Theory

Chaos theory is a branch of mathematics and physics that studies complex and unpredictable systems. It explores how seemingly random and chaotic...

Chest Voice

Chest voice, a common term for Thyroarytenoid Dominant Production, refers to the lower range of a singer’s vocal register, characterized by a deep...

Chiaroscuro

Chiaroscuro refers to a vocal technique that emphasizes the balancing of light and dark. It is a key part of bel canto singing, and is the standard...

Clavicular Breathing

Clavicular breathing, also known as chest breathing or shallow breathing, refers to a breathing pattern primarily characterized by the elevation of...

Closed Quotient

Closed Quotient refers to the proportion of time during a vocal fold vibration cycle when the vocal folds are completely closed (adducted). It is...

Coccyx

The coccyx, commonly known as the tailbone, is a small, triangular bone located at the base of the vertebral column in humans. Comprising three to...

Cochlea

The cochlea is a spiral-shaped, fluid-filled structure located in the inner ear that is responsible for translating sound vibrations into electrical...

Condenser Microphone

A condenser microphone is a type of microphone that converts sound waves into electrical signals using an electrically charged diaphragm and a...

Costal Cartilage

Costal cartilage refers to the hyaline cartilage that connects the ribs to the sternum in the human ribcage. It is essential for maintaining the...

Cyst

Vocal Fold Cysts are fluid-filled or semisolid growths that typically form on only one vocal fold and unlike nodules can form at any point along the...

Decibel (dB)

Decibel (dB) measures sound intensity or the sound power per unit area on a logarithmic scale. Because of this logarithmic relationship, the overall...

Diaphragm

The Diaphragm is a thin sheet of domed muscle extending across the bottom of the thoracic cavity. It is the primary muscle for inhalation as its...

Diaphragmatic Breathing

Diaphragmatic Breathing or Abdominal Breathing is often referred to as the “correct way to breathing” while singing and does have many benefits for...

Dorsum (Tongue)

The Dorsum of the Tongue is what many perceive as the middle and back of the tongue; it is the back part of the tongue that is visible in the mouth...

Dynamic Microphone

A dynamic microphone is a type of microphone commonly used in singing and live sound applications. It operates based on electromagnetic induction....

Echo

An echo refers to the reflection of sound waves off surfaces back to the listener’s ears. It occurs when sound waves encounter a hard, reflective...

Electroglottograph (EEG)

The Electroglottograph (EGG) is a device used in voice research to measure and analyze the contact and vibration patterns of the vocal folds during...

Epiglottis

The epiglottis is a flap-like cartilage structure located at the base of the tongue, near the entrance to the trachea. During swallowing, the...

Eustachian Tube

The Eustachian tube is a narrow canal connecting the middle ear to the nasopharynx. Its function is the equalization of air pressure on both sides of...

Expiratory Reserve Volume

Expiratory reserve volume (ERV) is the additional volume of air that can be forcefully exhaled after a normal tidal expiration—the respiratory...

External Intercostal Muscles

The External Intercostal Muscles aid in inhalation; when contracted, they pull the ribs up and out. They originate from the inferior of one rib and...

Extreme Vocals

False Folds

The False Folds, or vestibular folds, sit above the true vocal folds. Despite many similarities, they are minimally used in normal phonation. Singers...

False Ribs

The false ribs are the ribs that are not directly attached to the sternum by their own costal cartilage. Instead, they are connected to the cartilage...

Falsetto

Falsetto is a rather poorly defined singing style often associated only with male singers. Depending on who is using it, falsetto can refer to a...

Faucial Pillars

The faucial pillars are structures in the throat that play a role in vocal tract resonance during singing and vocalization. They are located on each...

Formant

Formant refers to a concentration of acoustic energy in the frequency spectrum of a sound. In the context of speech and singing, formants are...

Formant 1

Formant 1 (F1) is a frequency of increased acoustic resonance caused by the position of the Blade of the Tongue. Formant 1, in conjunction with...

Formant 2

Formant 2 (F2) is the second formant frequency. Like Formant 1 it is created by the shape of the tongue; however, its frequency directly related to...

Formant Tuning

Formant tuning refers to the process of adjusting the resonance frequencies, known as formants, in the vocal tract to achieve desired sounds and...

Frenulum

A frenulum is a thin band of tissue that connects two structures in the body. Most notable is the lingual frenulum is a small fold of tissue that...

Frequency

Frequency refers to the number of cycles or vibrations a sound wave completes per unit of time, typically measured in Hertz (Hz). Frequency is...

Fundamental Frequency

The Fundamental Frequency or F0, is more commonly referred to as pitch. The difference between the fundamental frequency and a pitch is that a pitch...

Genioglossus

The genioglossues is a fan-shaped muscle that forms most of the tongue mass and is the primary muscle for protruding the tongue. The Genioglossus is...

Geniohyoid Muscles

The Geniohyoid muscle is a pair of narrow muscles running from the chin to the hyoid bone. It helps to move the hyoid bone up and forwards. The...

Glottal

A Glottal is a type of onset and offset. To do a glottal onset a singer adducts the vocal folds before the start of expiration. This type of onset...

Glottis

The glottis is a critical anatomical feature within the larynx that plays a fundamental role in the production of sound, breathing, and protecting...

Hard Palate

The hard palate refers to the bony structure that forms the front portion of the roof of the mouth in humans. It is composed of the maxilla and...

Head Voice

Head Voice is the common term for cricothyroid dominant vocal production or Mode 2. In this style of singing the vocal folds are thinned and...

Hering Breuer Reflex

The Hering-Breuer Reflex, discovered by physiologists Ewald Hering and Josef Breuer in the 19th century, is a reflex mechanism that plays a critical...

Hertz (Hz)

Hertz (Hz), named after Heinrich Hertz, measures the frequency of a sound by indicating the number of cycles per second that pass a given location....

Hooke’s Law

Hooke's Law is a fundamental principle in physics that describes the relationship between the force applied to a spring or elastic material and the...

Hyoglossus

The Hyoglossus is one of the four extrinsic muscles of the tongue. It is responsible for the depression and retraction of the tongue. Originating...

Hyoid Bone

The hyoid bone is a U-shaped bone located in the neck, above the larynx and beneath the root of the tongue. It is unique in that it does not...

Hyperpnea

Hyperpnea is an increase in the depth and rate of breathing in response to a higher demand for oxygen. This physiological response occurs during...

Hyperventilation

Hyperventilation is a condition of breathing more rapidly and deeply than the body requires, leading to a reduction in the carbon dioxide (CO2) level...

In Ear Monitors

In-ear monitors (IEMs) are personal audio devices used by musicians, performers, and audio professionals to monitor their live audio or recorded...

Inferior

Inferior is a reference to below, the opposite of Superior. It is not an indication of the importance, simply the position of a piece of anatomy....

Inspiratory Reserve Volume

Inspiratory reserve volume (IRV) is the maximum additional volume of air that can be inhaled beyond a normal tidal breath—the respiratory reservoir...

Internal Intercostal Muscles

The Internal Intercostal Muscles are located between the ribs on the inside of the ribcage, They serve as primary expiratory muscles during active...

Involuntary Muscles

Involuntary muscles are muscles that work automatically without conscious control. They are found in various parts of the body, including the...

Jaw

The jaw, also known as the mandible, is the bone that forms the lower part of the face and the lower jawline. It is the largest and strongest bone in...

Lamina Propria

Lamina propria is a layer of connective tissue found within the vocal folds, located beneath the epithelium. The lamina propria consists of three...

Laryngopharynx

The laryngopharynx is the lower part of the pharynx, or throat, situated between the superior border of the epiglottis and the inferior border of the...

Laryngoscopy

Laryngoscopy is a medical procedure involving the examination of the larynx, or voice box, using a device called a laryngoscope. This instrument may...

Lateral

Lateral describes a position, direction, or structure that is situated away from the midline or the center of the body or an object. In anatomical...

Lateral Cricoarytenoid Muscles (LCA)

The Lateral Cricoarytenoid muscles (LCA) are intrinsic muscles of the larynx functioning with the oblique arytenoid muscles and the transverse...

Latissimi Dorsi

Latissimi Dorsi, more commonly called “lats” are a large flat muscle on the back and sides that partially covers the trapezius. The lats are a...

Legit

Legit is a style of singing used occasionally in musical theatre or other contemporary commercial music styles. The term is typically used to...

Levator Labii Superioris

The Levator Labii Superioris elevates the upper lip and is used for speech and facial expressions. Origin: medial infra-orbital margin. Insertion:...

Levator Scapulae

The levator scapulae is a muscle in the neck and shoulder region. It originates from the upper cervical vertebrae and attaches to the scapula...

Levator Veli Palatini

The Levator Veli Palatini lifts the soft palate (also known as velum) and pulls it slightly backward, closing the nasopharyngeal (velopharyngeal)...

Lombard Effect

The Lombard Effect, named after the French scientist Étienne Lombard, is a phenomenon where individuals automatically adjust their vocal intensity,...

Lung Capacity

Lung Capacity is a term that encompasses four different measurements of volume, typically measured in liters. Total Lung Capacity: the total capacity...

Malleus

The Malleus is one of the three tiny bones located in the middle ear, collectively known as the ossicles, which are essential for hearing. The...

Medial

Medial refers to a position or direction toward the midline or center of the body. It signifies a location closer to the body's central axis. For...

Melisma

Messa Di Voce

Messa di voce or ‘mass of voice’ is a vocal technique where the singer phonates a single pitch and increases then decrease the intensity gradually....

Mixed Voice

Mixed Voice is a misleading term arising out of a balancing of Chest and Head voice. All phonation is a balancing act between thyroarytenoid dominant...

Modal Voice

Modal Voice is another term for Thyroarytenoid Dominant Production or Chest Voice. Modal voice is characterized by a harmonically rich sound and...

Mode 1

Mode 1 describes singing with a thyroarytenoid dominant production or chest voice. In this production, the vocal folds are thickened, creating a...

Mode 2

Mode 2 is another term for Cricothyroid dominant production, head voice, or falsetto. Mode 2 means that the vocal folds have been lengthened and...

Mucosal Wave

The mucosal wave is the undulating motion of the mucous membrane (mucosa) that covers the vocal folds. During phonation, when air passes between the...

Muscle Insertion

Muscle insertion refers to the point on a muscle where it attaches to a bone, a tendon, or another structure that it moves. This attachment site is...

Muscle Origin

The Origin of a muscle is the attachment point where the muscle connects to a bone. When a muscle contracts, the muscle insertion moves toward the...

Muscular Antagonism

Muscular antagonism refers to the relationship between pairs of muscles that have opposing actions or functions. When one muscle group contracts, its...

Mylohyoid

The Mylohyoid muscle, also called the diaphragma oris, is a paired muscle that elevates the hyoid bone and the tongue for swallowing and speech. If...

Myoelastic-Aerodynamic Theory of Voice Production

The Myoelastic-Aerodynamic Theory of Voice Production is a fundamental concept in vocal physiology. It explains how vocalization occurs through the...

Narrow Bandwidth

Narrow bandwidth refers to a limited range of frequencies within a signal or spectrum. In the context of sound, a narrow bandwidth indicates that...

Nasopharynx

The nasopharynx is a part of the upper respiratory tract located behind the nasal cavity and above the oropharynx. It serves as a pathway for air to...

Nodules

Vocal Fold Nodules are bumps that can form on the vocal folds. Nodules always form bilaterally in the anterior third of the vocal folds. They are...

Non-linear Theory

The non-linear theory of vocal production is a framework in the study of vocal physiology and acoustics. This theory focuses on understanding the...

Objective Measurement

Objective measurement refers to the quantitative assessment of a phenomenon or attribute using standardized and reliable techniques. It involves...

Offset

Offset is the end of a sound, in singing you can have a glottal, aspirate, or smooth offset. Which offset is used is typically dependent on the style...

Onset

The moment at the beginning of phonation where exhalation and vocal fold closure occur. Depending on the order of events, onsets can be aspirate,...

Open Quotient

The open quotient measures the percentage of time during a cycle when the true vocal folds are apart during phonation. An increased open quotient is...

Orbicularis Oris

The orbicularis oris is a circular muscle located around the mouth, encircling the lips. It plays a pivotal role in controlling lip movements, such...

Oropharynx

The oropharynx is one of three sections of the pharynx, situated behind the oral cavity, extending from the velum to the hyoid bone. The oropharynx...

Ossification

Ossification is the process of bone formation or the gradual conversion of other tissues, typically cartilage, into bone. Ossification is a part of...

Out-of-Phase

Out of phase refers to a condition where two or more waves or signals are not synchronized or aligned in their peaks and troughs. When waves are out...

Overtones

Overtones, another term for harmonics, are additional frequencies that accompany the fundamental frequency of a sound. When a musical instrument or...

Partials

Partials are also known as overtones or harmonics. They are the individual frequencies that make up a complex sound wave such as singing. The...

Pascals (Pa)

Pascals, named after the French mathematician Blaise Pascal, are a unit of measurement used to quantify air pressure. In the context of singing,...

Passaggio

Passaggio is the Italian term for the ranges where singers must make physical or acoustic changes to their singing technique to continue singing in a...

Pharynx

The pharynx is a vital part of the human throat, located behind the mouth and nasal cavity. It serves as a passageway for both air and food. The...

Phonation Threshold Pressure

Phonation Threshold Pressure (Pth or PTP) is the minimum sub-glottal pressure required for phonation, measured in kilopascal (kPa). The required...

Piriform Sinuses

The Piriform Sinuses are small pear-shaped structures located in the laryngopharynx lateral to the laryngeal entrance. Their primary function is to...

Pitch

Pitch refers to the perceived frequency of a sound, indicating whether it is heard as high or low. It is determined by the fundamental frequency of...

Plateau

Definition: A perceived halt in vocal or musical progress, often mistaken for failure but more accurately representing a temporary phase where growth...

Polyps

Polyps can form on one or both vocal folds and are not necessarily a sign of vocal trauma. They appear as a swelling or bump similar to nodules...

Posterior

“Posterior” refers to the direction or position that is towards the back or rear of a structure. In anatomy, it describes the side of the...

Posterior Cricoarytenoid Muscles (PCA)

The Posterior Cricoarytenoid Muscles (PCAs) are the sole vocal fold abductors, separating the vocal folds during inhalation by rotating the arytenoid...

Presbyphonia

Presbyphonia refers to the age-related changes in the voice that occur as individuals grow older. It can affect a vocalist's ability to maintain the...

Psychoacoustics

Psychoacoustics is the study of the psychological and physiological effects of sound perception on the human auditory system. It explores how the...

Quadratus Lumborum

The quadratus lumborum is a deep muscle located in the lower back on both sides of the spine. It is a large and powerful muscle responsible for...

Rarefaction

Rarefaction is the phase of a sound wave where air molecules are spread out or less dense than in their equilibrium state. This is the opposite of...

Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve

The recurrent laryngeal nerve is a significant structure in the vocal apparatus. It is a branch of the vagus nerve and plays a crucial role in...

Registers

Vocal Registers were first defined by Manuel Garcia II as “a series of homogeneous sounds produced by one mechanism, differing essentially from...

Registration Violation

Registration Violations occur when singers chooses to sing a pitch in a way that is different from the bodies natural tendency. This choice may be...

Reinke’s Space

Reinke’s Space is another name for the Superficial Lamina Propria, the layer directly under the epithelium of the vocal folds. It is a band of...

Residual Lung Capacity

Residual volume (RV) is the air remaining in the lungs after maximum exhalation—approximately 1200 mL in healthy adults. This volume cannot be...

Sacrum

The sacrum is a large, triangular-shaped bone located at the base of the spine, beneath the lumbar vertebrae. Comprising five fused vertebrae, the...

Sampling Rate

The Sampling Rate is the number of samples captured per second by a piece of equipment. Standard sampling rates are 44.1kHz, 48kHz, and 96kHz. An...

Scalenes

The scalene muscles are a group of three muscles located in the neck and upper chest region. These muscles are named the anterior scalene, middle...

Secondary Inspiratory Muscles

Secondary Inspiratory Muscles: Did you know that the Sternocleidomastoids, Scalens, Pectoralis Major, Trapezius, Levator Scapulae, Levator Costarum,...

Self-to-Other Ratio (SOR)

Self to Other Ratio is the ratio of which a singer hears themselves compared to an ensemble or band. Preferences for the optimum ratio vary widely by...

Singer's Formant

The singer's formant is a prominent spectral peak near 2.5–3.5 kHz that enables trained operatic voices to project over orchestral accompaniment...

Soft Palate

The soft palate, or velum, is a flexible structure positioned at the back of the mouth's roof, behind the hard palate. It acts as a crucial barrier...

Solfege

Solfege is a pitch-naming system using syllables—do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti—to represent scale degrees, serving as the dominant method for training...

Sotto Voce

Sotto Voce is a musical term that translates to “under the voice”. It instructs the singer to lower their voice and sing softly, often in...

Sound

Sound is compression and rarefaction within a medium, or more commonly the movement together and apart of air molecules. It has four main properties:...

Sound Pressure Level (SPL)

Sound Pressure Level (SPL) is a measure of the intensity or loudness of sound. It quantifies the pressure variations caused by sound waves in a given...

Sound Spectrum

All of the frequencies (F0 and all the overtones) and their respective intensities. A spectrum can be visualized on a spectrogram that plots the...

Sound Wave

A sound wave is a disturbance that propagates through a medium, such as air or water, as a sequence of compressions and rarefactions. It is created...

Source-Filter Theory

The Source-Filter Theory is an acoustic model that explains how the human voice produces sound and how this sound is shaped into speech. This theory...

Spectral Envelope

The spectral envelope refers to the overall shape of the frequency spectrum of a sound signal. It represents the distribution of energy across...

Spectrogram

A spectrogram is a visual representation of the frequency content of a sound signal over time. It displays the intensity or power of different...

Speed of Sound

The speed of sound refers to how quickly sound waves travel through a medium, such as air, water, or solids. In dry air at sea level, the speed of...

Sprechgesang

Sprechgesang or speak-singing is a vocal technique that combines elements of speech and singing. Sprechgesang is most closely related to operatic...

Stapes

The Stapes is the third of the three ossicles in the middle ear, it is also called the stirrup bone due to its shape. The stapes transmits sound from...

Stereocilia

Stereocilia are tiny hair-like structures found in the cochlea. Stereocilia play a fundamental role in the perception of sound and pitch accuracy....

Sternocleidomastoids

The sternocleidomastoid muscle is a prominent anatomical structure in the neck. This large muscle is named for its points of attachment to the...

Sternohyoid

The sternohyoid is a thin, strap-like muscle located in the neck region. It plays a role in singing as it is part of the group of muscles known as...

Straight Tone

Straight tone is a vocal technique that is common in various genres and stages of vocal maturity. Despite the name, straight tone is a misnomer....

Strohbass

Strohbass is another term for Vocal Fry or Mode 0, in which the vocal folds are short and slack allowing air to vibrate the folds slowly, creating...

Styloglossus

The styloglossus is one of the muscles of the tongue, it contributes to various tongue movements, including retracting and elevating the tongue. By...

Stylohyoid

The Stylohyoid muscle elevates and retracts the hyoid bone. Originating from the posterior surface of the temporal styloid process and inserting into...

Subcostals

Subcostal muscles reside between the ribs. These muscles are secondary expiratory muscles aiding in the movement of the ribcage during exhalation....

Subglottal

Subglottal refers to the area located below the vocal folds within the larynx. It encompasses the space between the vocal folds and the trachea....

Superior

In anatomy, “superior” is a directional term indicating a position above or higher in relation to another structure or point of reference...

Superior Laryngeal Nerve, External Branch

The superior laryngeal nerve, external branch, is a significant component of the nervous system involved in vocal function. Emerging from the vagus...

Supraglottal

Supraglottal refers to all things above the glottis, another term for the vocal folds—Supra or Superior, meaning above or on top. It is the opposite...

Temporalis

The temporalis muscle is one of the muscles that elevates and retracts the mandible for speech and chewing. Origin: Temporal Lines of the Parietal...

Tensor Palati

The Tensor Palati is also known as the tensor veli palatini. It tenses the soft palate and assists the levator veli palatini in elevating the soft...

Thick Folds

Thick Folds are another term for Thyroarytenoid Dominant Vocal Production, Mode 1, or Chest Voice. Thick Folds are one of the four True Vocal Fold...

Thin Folds

Thin folds describes a cricothyroid dominant vocal production where the vocal folds are thin and elongated, allowing for lighter and higher-pitched...

Thorax

The Thorax, more commonly referred to as the chest is the part of the body between the neck and abdomen. The thorax contains the heart, lungs, rib...

Thyroarytenoid Dominant (TA) Production

Thyroarytenoid Dominant Production is characterized by short, thick vocal folds. This style of singing, also referred to as Chest Voice or Mode 1,...

Thyromuscularis

Some texts separate the Thyroarytenoid muscle into two parts the Thyromuscularis and Thyrovocalis. The Thyromuscularis originating from the lower...

Thyrovocalis

Some texts separate the Thyroarytenoid muscle into two parts the thyromuscularis and thyrovocalis. The thyrovocalis running parallel the...

Tidal Volume

Tidal volume (TV) is the volume of air moved during normal resting breathing—the amount inhaled and exhaled in a single quiet breath. Typical adult...

Timbre

Timbre is the color or quality of a sound. In the vocal instrument, it is shaped by the state of the vocal folds, the vocal tract, the position of...

Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a condition characterized by the perception of a ringing, buzzing, or other sounds in the ears when there is no external sound source....

Tongue

The Tongue is a complex group of muscles used for eating, swallowing, and facilitating speech. There are four intrinsic muscles, the superior...

Transverse

In anatomy, transverse planes or sections are used to divide the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions. Transverse movements or...

Trapezius

The trapezius muscles are a pair of large, triangular-shaped muscles located on the upper back and neck. Originating from the base of the skull and...

True Vocal Folds

The True Vocal Folds are small complex structures located in the larynx. Their primary purpose is to protect the airway from liquids and solids...

Vagus Nerve

The vagus nerve is the longest and most complex cranial nerve in the human body. It plays a crucial role in phonation, the production of vocal...

Velleculae

Valleculae are anatomical structures located in the throat, specifically in the region of the pharynx. They are small depressions or pockets situated...

Velum

The Velum, more commonly called the soft palate, is the soft tissue that makes up the back portion of the roof of the mouth. It consists of five...

Vestibule of the Ear

The Vestibule of the Ear is the central part of the bony labyrinth in the inner ear, situated between the cochlea and the semicircular canals. The...

Vibrato

Vibrato is an oscillation of pitch during phonation. To define vibrato we measure both the rate or speed of the vibrato and the extent that the pitch...

Vibrato Extent

Vibrato extent refers to the degree or range of pitch variation that occurs during the execution of a vibrato in singing, measured in cents. The...

Vibrato Rate

Vibrato rate pertains to the speed at which the pitch oscillation occurs during a vocal or instrumental vibrato measured in Hertz. Vibrato is a...

Vital Lung Capacity

Vital Lung Capacity (VC) is the maximum amount of air that can be exhaled after inhalation. Vital Lung Capacity varies widely with adults ranging...

Vocal Cords

Vocal Cord is an antiquated term for the vocal folds. The true vocal folds are a pair of multi-layered tissue that stretches from the posterior of...

Vocalis Muscle

The vocalis muscle, also known as the thyroarytenoid muscle, is a key component of the larynx and vocal fold control. It is the deepest layer of the...

Vocalise

Vocalise are little exercises or songs traditionally without words meant to master specific technical challenges. Now vocalise is a term that can be...

Voce Di Petto

Voce di petto is another term for thyroarytenoid dominant vocal production, mode 1, or the commonly used but misleading chest voice. It is...

Voce Di Testa

Voce Di Testa is another term for Head Voice or Cricothyroid dominant vocal production. Voce Di Testa is characterized by lengthened and thinned...

Voice Crack

Voice Cracks occur intentionally or unintentionally when the vocal folds move from a TA Dominant production to a breathy CT Dominant production...

Voice Range Profile (VRP)

A Voice Range Profile is a comprehensive representation of a singer's vocal range and capabilities. It typically consists of a graphical chart or...

Voix Mixte

Voix Mixte is another term for Mixed Voice, the concept of a hybrid between chest and head voice and it refers to finding a balance and seamless...

Vox Agnotology

The study of ignorance as it relates to the voice—specifically, how misconceptions, outdated pedagogy, and incomplete knowledge persist in vocal...

Watts

Watts are a unit of measurement used to quantify power, which is the rate at which energy is transferred or used. In the context of singing and sound...

Waveform

A waveform is a visual representation of a sound wave that displays how the amplitude of the sound signal changes over time.

Wavelength

Wavelength refers to the distance between two consecutive points of a wave that are in the same phase.

Zone of Proximal Development

The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) is the space between what a learner can do independently and what they can accomplish with guidance from a...

Zygomaticus

The zygomaticus is a facial muscle comprised of two parts: the zygomaticus major and the zygomaticus minor.