Monday, January 14, 2019

Controlling Vibrato through Proper Use of Breath and Vocal Cords


An orchestral conductor in Southern California, Kristof Van Grysperre serves as artistic director with Angels Vocal Art. Focused on developing the talents of opera singers, Kristof Van Grysperre has directed a number of well received operatic productions.

One of the foundations of singing involves controlling vibrato, or the minute variations of pitch that arise from allowing the pharynx, or the part of the throat just behind the nasal cavity and mouth, to fully open. At the same time, the vocal cords should be closed, which allows them to efficiently resist airflow and adds a sense of resonance to the sound produced. This is accomplished through making the vocal folds coming together and vibrating in a way that is free of forced breath pressure.

This can be difficult for many singers to conceptualize, as the component parts of the vocal cords, and how they interact with the breath, are hidden from sight. One way of accessing the proper vocal closing, or resistance to breath pressure, is to sustain the "ng" sound, which utilizes specific muscles that hold back air before it exits the mouth. For most singers, working with an experienced voice instructor is the most effective way of accessing those parts of the voice that add vibrato and a sense of depth to a given note.

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