Breath Control Basics
This muscle, located just below the lungs, is key to proper breath support.
Diaphragm.
Singing "in the mask" refers to resonance in this part of the face.
Nasal/Sinus.
The International Phonetic Alphabet is also known by these three letters.
IPA
a triangular bone in the lower back formed from fused vertebrae and situated between the two hipbones of the pelvis.
sacrum.
This simple drink is a singer’s best friend.
Water!
This natural wave in pitch adds warmth and emotion to sustained notes.
Vibrato.
This resource published by G. Schirmer, is essential for the developing/maturing adult voice. Often with a yellow cover.
24 Italian Songs & Arias.
"Breathing low" is a phrase used to encourage this type of inhalation.
Diaphragmatic breathing
Soft palate (velum).
Choral singers often modify these to unify sound across sections.
Vowels.
This should be engaged to provide breath support and posture.
Core/intercostals.
Vocal warm-ups are essential to avoid this kind of injury.
Vocal strain.
In Romantic art song, this expressive technique involves briefly delaying or anticipating notes for emotional effect.
Agogic accent.
This is an online database of choral and vocal sheet music in the public domain or otherwise offered freely.
CPDL/IMSLP
In choral singing, controlling the release of air over long phrases is known as this.
Breath management.
A “bright” sound is typically associated with this type of vocal placement.
Forward placement.
These speech sounds help enunciate words clearly but must be coordinated to avoid disrupting the tone.
Consonants.
Misalignment in this joint, located where the jaw meets the skull, can interfere with resonance, diction, and breath efficiency
temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
This vocal disorder can result from overuse or misuse and often requires therapy or rest.
Vocal nodules.
This technique, used especially in early music, requires a singer to add subtle embellishments or ornaments not written in the score.
Improvised ornamentation.
This German word refers to an art song, typically for solo voice and piano, made famous by composers like Schubert and Schumann.
Lied
This term describes the coordinated effort of the respiratory system and vocal folds to maintain tone.
Appoggio.
This type of resonance, felt in the chest, is associated with lower pitches and fuller tone.
Chest resonance.
This process involves adjusting vowels to create a more unified sound, especially on high pitches.
Vowel modification.
This term refers to the body’s natural vertical alignment used in efficient singing.
Alexander Technique.
a voice quality characterized by a deep, creaky, or rattling sound produced by the vibration of the vocal cords.
vocal fry.
This Italian term describes a highly emotional, speech-like style of singing found in early opera and expressive choral recitatives.
Recitative
In French mélodie, this composer’s Clair de lune and Mandoline are staples of the repertoire.
Claude Debussy
Advanced breath support often relies on maintaining this sensation in the lower torso without clenching.
expansion (or suspension)
each of several prominent bands of frequency that determine the phonetic quality of a vowe
formant.
a mark ( ¨ ) used over a vowel, as in German or Hungarian, to indicate a different vowel quality, usually fronting or rounding.
umlaut.
This body system, including bones, muscles, and joints, must work in balance to support optimal singing posture.
musculoskeletal system
a wave-like motion of the vocal fold cover (epithelium and superficial layer of the lamina propria) during vibration. This wave-like movement is caused by the vibration of the vocal folds and is a key indicator of healthy vocal fold function.
mucosal wave
translates to "placing of the voice" in Italian, is a singing technique that involves a gradual crescendo (increase in volume) followed by a gradual decrescendo (decrease in volume) on a single sustained note.
messa di voce
In the American song tradition, this composer’s Sure on This Shining Night and The Crucifixion are considered modern classics.
Samuel Barber