Voice resonance is often referred to as the quality of someone’s voice. I am sure that everyone has heard the sound of his or her voice on the telephone or answering machine before. Is your voice deep, rich and full? Or is it high, sharp, and penetrating. The sound of your voice that you hear off the answering machine is largely determined by your vocal resonance.
As we have reviewed previously, sound is created by the speed and vibration of air through the vocal cords. Resonance is determined by the cavity in which these air vibrations take place. Imagine the difference between a violin and cello. Both instruments share similar a similar string structure, but the major differences in sound quality are caused by the differences in size and shape of the hollow cavity that the strings vibrate over.
In people, the hollow cavities are found in our throat, mouth, chest and nasal cavities. The differences in the sizes of your physical cavities is the reason why people have different sounding voices. When you have a cold, and your sinuses get blocked, your voice also does not resonate as well. This explains why people have a tendency to sound funny when they are sick.
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Voice Resonance Exercises
- Hum any note at a comfortable pitch.
- Shift the pitch slightly lower. You should pay special attention to how your chest feels.
- Hold the note and continue to hum until you can feel the vibration in your chest.
- Try to increase the intensity of the humming vibration
- Next, move the pitch slightly two octaves higher and pay special attention to how your head feels.
- Feel the vibration in your head and chest and try to increase the intensity of the humming vibration
- Open your mouth and hum until you feel the vibration in your tongue and lips, behind and above your mouth.
- Continue humming until you can feel the differences. Try to increase the vibration intensity.
- Refocus your concentration to the vibrations in your chest once more.
- Repeat this exercise 5 times, remembering to end the exercise with the focus on your chest in order to develop a full, vibrant sound.
Special note: avoid forcing air when you are humming. Also remember to breathe frequently. Stop if you get light headed.