Singing is like playing a tune, the singer being both the musician and the instrument at the same time. So, just as a musician must know how to tune his instrument’s strings, so you as a singer, must know how to better control your vocal cords.
This involves the maintenance of your vocal instrument, keeping it clean and properly energized, as well as keeping calm and knowing how to use your muscles to maximize the effects of your voice.
Your body is an amazingly sophisticated system, and your vocal system is definitely one of its most amazing parts, here are some amazing facts about your vocal cords:
Most importantly:
You do not actually control your vocal cords and voice-box. They are operated by involuntary muscles, and their operation is commanded by autonomous nervous system. Nonetheless, you can improve your vocal performance, by relaxing your body, in order to allow your vocal cords to maximize their effect when “you” stretch them. You can also keep your resonance cavities clear, and exercising vocal techniques to improve and diversify your vocal qualities.
It is less about commanding your cords, rather than discovering what they can perform spontaneously.
Here are some ways to control and maintain your vocal cords:
Vocal exercises:
Singing, as well as intense and normal speaking, involves a support from the diaphragm, in order not to overstrain the vocal system during the vocal effort.
For this purpose, to control your vocal cords you should perform the following exercises:
To conclude:
Your vocal cords and voice box are your instruments. Therefore, you must keep them in tune, in order to control your vocal cords and allow them perform to their full potential
Wishing you the best vocal health,
Talya
TMRG voice specialist