Actors make money off of their voices. In some places, outdoor theaters, small houses where microphones aren’t an option, etc.., it becomes necessary to project the voice. There is definitely a right and a wrong way to do that. The right way can lead to a prolonged performance career. The wrong way WILL lead to vocal tension and, possibly, permanent vocal damage. In this article I will tell you exactly what you need to know to avoid vocal tension, and create relaxed and rewarding vocal projection.
First, we need to talk about how the voice works
Most of us have heard that the voice is made by vocal cords. When you speak, air moves over the vocal cords and makes sound. This is not the case. There are no magical cords in your throat. You are equipped with something more fascinating. You have fibrous folds that vibrate and change shape based one what you ask of them. They send sound through your resonators to your mouth, where words are made.
So, how do those magical vocal folds work?
To get a better idea of what we are talking about, check out this video.
The video shows in detail what the folds look like while they work. These folds are healthy and lubricated and supported by breath. You can see them vibrating to make the sound. It also sounds off because there is a camera down her throat and that changes just a whole slew of things about the sound. The important part is how the sound is made
When the pitch of the sound is high, the folds tighten so the vibration is small. When the pitch is lower, the folds relax and the vibration is looser. Notice how her voice only works when air is moving out and across the folds. When she takes a breath the folds get out of the way to let as much air into the lungs as possible. It is impossible to have a healthy voice without a healthy breath. It is the breath that carries the sound and if the breath is weak, then the voice will be weak.
We need to talk about what a breath is before we talk about creating a healthy breath
I know it seems basic, but have you ever seriously thought about what a breath is? If you are like most people, you haven’t. You just breathe. Vocal professionals, however, have to think about it because we use it all day everyday.
A breath has two parts: size and pressure
The size of the breath is how much air there is, the actual pounds per square inch of air. The pressure is how much push there is. Size and pressure can both be created by the lungs. That is what most people do everyday. That doesn’t mean it is best.
Air can only be stored in the lungs, so the lungs are the only place where the size of the breath can be established. In a healthy breath, the pressure comes from the diaphragm and not the lungs. The diaphragm is the muscle that pulls air into and pushes air out of your body. It is MUCH better at doing this than the lungs.
The diaphragm specializes in air movement. Think about it like different types of doctors. A general practitioner does a little bit of everything but sends patients to a specialist when things get serious. The lungs are the general practitioner and the diaphragm is the specialist.
Once you are trained in diaphragmatic breathing you will take a breath in and feel how truly deep it is. Your lungs will fill and your diaphragm will extend. Then, you let all of the built up pressure out. This supported breath is the basis of healthy projection.
Learning about projection
Now, you have the supported breath down. The next step is projection. It has to work this way. You have to walk before you can run. In this case, supported breathing is walking and projection is running. When you project, the vocal folds are doing the same thing they did before, only bigger. This is the part of vocal technique that often leads to damage, so we have to get this right. Like anything in the body, it can do amazing things when prepared properly.
Before any serious vocal performer uses their voice, there is a vocal warm-up. This is not negotiable. The warm-up is the time when you get the vocal folds ready to go and lubricated. Yes, you have to keep them lubricated or they will not work as well. Water is your best friend here. Once you have warmed up and your vocal folds are hydrated, and you are using warm air (again a different lesson), then you can project as long as your vocal folds can perform.
Avoiding vocal fatigue
The last thing you have to look out for is vocal fatigue. You can do all of the previous things properly, avoid vocal tension, and then hurt your voice by overworking it. What happens at this point is your vocal folds get tired and they swell. This phenomenon is known as “losing your voice.” The vocal folds have been abused and have swollen so much they don’t work properly.
If you don’t pay attention to this warning sign and push your vocal folds, you will do lasting damage. Once the vocal folds are swollen, your vocal day is done. After a rest and more hydration you can get going again.
Learning to avoid vocal tension is one of the most important steps you can take as an actor
Vocal tension is one of the most common career killers in this business. You avoid it by proper breathing, staying away from smoking, effective warm-ups, and paying attention to what your body is telling you. For my acting students, this is lesson one. Our stories rest on the breath, so our breath must be strong and healthy, so our voices can be heard.
Stephen Scarlato