Dear Colleague …

Welcome to the latest edition of the Vocal Process ezine. We have reports on our recent courses and Integrated Voice. We are also pleased to announce part of our line-up of courses for the rest of this year. The next of our short features on the larynx rounds this edition off and focuses on the structure of the vocal folds.

Deirdre Trundle and Singposium

Many readers will have worked with Deirdre Trundle on her Changing Voices programme. Deirdre was invited to give an interactive presentation on her work at this year's Singposium at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, organised by Music For Youth and the Association of British Choral Directors. Strategies for keeping young singers healthy was clearly an important issue for the 120 people who signed up for Deirdre's practical workshop. Deirdre will be presenting Changing Voices on 20 November 2004 in London and will be a course tutor on Musical Theatre Intensive in August 2004 in Glasgow.

Vocal Process Certification - 'With One Voice'

An eclectic mix of voice and singing teachers, performers, speech and language therapists and student voice teachers attended With One Voice led by David Carey and Gillyanne Kayes. The aim of the day was to explore and discuss an integrated approach to voice and singing training. The day began with an historical view of pedagogy and was followed by practical workshops in both voice and singing. Many people commented on the seamless transition they were able to make from 'freeing voice and body work', for spoken voice, into a vocal set-up for sustaining pitch and tonal quality for singing. There was lively discussion about the relationship between the abdominal breath and floor work and on the differences between effort levels required for commitment to spoken and sung text.

This workshop was run in association with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and marked the final unit of Module One of the Vocal Process certification programme - Integrated Voice. Module One of this certification programme will start again in September 2004, access the full prospectus on the website.

With One Voice will be repeated in January 2005.

'Advanced Core Training' in London, 3-4 July 2004

Participants on the Advanced Core Training worked with us to explore a variety of topics including breath use in different vocal sets, registers, and the relationship between passaggio and vocal fold behaviour. A major part of the course involved identifying and creating mixed vocal sets, with exploration of ways of applying the new information. Included in the weekend was a presentation on vowel and consonant management given by Matthew Reeve. Matthew and Gill Main acted as facilitators for the small practice groups. Our thanks to Ana Gracey, Head of Vocals at the Academy of Contemporary Music, for organising such a great venue.

Advanced Core Training will run each year. Look out for it in 2005!

Forthcoming Courses - Musical Theatre Intensive, Glasgow

For the third consecutive year our Musical Theatre Intensive will be returning to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama for this exciting weekend. This is an opportunity for those who are between 16 and 25 years old who want to learn more about musical theatre, especially those preparing for further training in performing arts. This year the course will be taught by Matthew Reeve and Deirdre Trundle. There will be practical work on vocal skills and healthy singing; help with song presentation; ensemble singing; and the weekend will culminate with a staged performance. Participants will have the opportunity to explore different styles of musical theatre, from 'pop' shows to classic musicals.

Musical Theatre Intensive
Glasgow, 6-8 August 2004

Practical Phonetics
London, Saturday 18 September 2004

Core Training
London, 29-31 October 2004

Changing Voices
London, Saturday 20 November 2004

Belting Explained
London, Saturday 27 November 2004

Feature - The Structure of the Vocal Folds
by Matthew Reeve

When we talk about the vocal folds we are really describing a complex, layered structure, consisting of different types of tissue. The layers of the vocal folds may be categorised differently according to the context in which they are being considered. To the reader, this is sometimes confusing. This article will help you negotiate your way through different ways of describing the tissues that make up the vocal folds.

The vocal folds are made up of five discrete layers.

Epithelium: a very thin layer of cells that give the vocal folds their distinctive white appearance when healthy. The layer is 0.1 mm thick and is constructed from squamous epithelium. These cells bind firmly together and allow air to pass with little friction.

Superficial layer of the Lamina propria: this is a thin layer of elastin fibres bound together in a random arrangement. The elastin fibres give this layer an 'elastic-like' quality. It can be stretched and move into many positions but it will always maintain is structural integrity. These fibres allow the vocal fold to thin along its edge. This layer is about 0.5 mm thick.

Intermediate layer of the Lamina propria: this layer also consists of elastin fibres, along with a few collagen fibres. It is more densely packed. Unlike the superficial layer, these fibres are lined up from front to back along the length of the vocal fold. This layer therefore can only stretch in an anterior-posterior direction. This layer is 1-2 mm thick.

Deep layer of the Lamina propria: this layer is formed out of collagen fibres. The properties of collagen mean it cannot be stretched and therefore prohibits over-extension of the vocal fold. This layer is also 1-2 mm thick.

Thyrovocalis muscle: also called the vocalis or the medial section if the thyroarytenoid muscle, this makes up the bulk of the vocal fold.

The epithelium and superficial layer of Lamina propria make up what is known as the mucosa, whereas the intermediate and deep layers of the Lamina propria form the vocal fold ligament. Another more functional classification groups the epithelium with superficial and intermediate layers of the Lamina propria as the cover of the vocal fold and the deep layer and the muscle as the body of the vocal fold.

In summary we could say that, the vocal folds can be considered to have either five, three or two layers, depending on the context in which they are being discussed: cellular (histochemical) structure, five layers; physical structure, three layers; and functional structure, two layers.

Further information on the thryoarytenoid muscle can be found in the articles section of the Vocal Process website.

In the meanwhile …

remember to monitor your effort levels!