I'm Madeline Harvey and thank you so much for hanging out with me today. What I thought would be a very helpful concept for our video lesson today is to discuss the inner workings of the larynx the muscle system that governs the entire vocalization process as we isolate these muscles. This is going to strengthen our vocal cords and our muscles surrounding the vocal cords which will give us more power more control. I like that and more smoothness during our transitions. So if you like today's video please be sure to give it a thumbs up or Subscribe button below. I would love to see you here as often as possible.
So the image that I would love for us to contemplate or dare I say meditate on is that of a bow and arrow. If we were to put a video one of those tiny video cameras down your nose and look into your larynx at your vocal cords we would see that the larynx is diamond shaped like this. And the vocal cords extend in a V pattern across two major muscles the muscles on the bottom are called the thyroid muscles they're responsible for contracting the vocal cords making them thicker and shorter for the lower notes. So if I go I can isolate that feeling of the thyroid muscle well being on those vocal cords Making them nice and short. Now up top here is our art annoyed muscle and very much like a bow and arrow. That's the muscle that pulls against for the higher notes so it will pull the vocal cords in a very X and stretched out way making them thinner for the higher note. So if I go I can feel that inward pulling against that muscle that muscle on the inside. So this is what we're working on today. And to help us isolate this we're going to need to make sure that we can hold the throat in a nice open position. So what we're going for there is a stretch almost yawn like feeling. So just take a second to register that sensation. Go ahead open the throat as if you're yawning. Good. Now we're just going to activate the breath by sighing This is going to ensure that our air flow is steady and even OK so we're just going to hold open no spy. Good. Now this just allows for us to get that steady even air flow going. So here's our exercise we're really going to think about that bow and arrow. OK. We're going to do a least Sunday. We're just going to walk down from high to low. And here's what I want you to think about. I want you to imagine that bow and arrow and you're going to feel the stretch before you come into the sound. So if my starting point is here I'm going to feel that stretch as I open the. And as I walk down from CCF I'm going to really isolate that muscle and I'm going to allow for it to slowly and control fully return to its neutral position which is that F. So if I go good. That's what we're got right there right there is what we're working on today. That's the only thing that I want you to think about the quality of the sound does not matter if it breaks if it wobbles. I just want to reassure you that that is symptomatic of you isolating something that your voice has just been accustomed to jumping over. Right. So as we lean into that muscle as a coordination it's going to feel very much like we're at the gym. We're going to lift nice and slow so we can develop those muscles long and strong. But as we do they might shake they might get a little tired and shake a little bit. All is well. Do not smell. OK. So here we go. Remember open the throttle sigh bow and arrow. Ready. Here we go. Uh Heathrow and the entire time. I'm actually not sure what my arms are doing. Past the point. That's like right here. Control it. Take your number is gonna take this time to remind you. Sigh into it we do not want to push the voice. By us continuing to hold our throat open we are holding open this entire vocal tract for making sure that it opens. This will ensure that the muscles under the chin don't collapse it by far making it right. We want to go nice and slow but as we open the throat in this way and we isolate this it might expose some gaps in coordination. And again I say Don't trouble your mind don't despair continue to keep it open and control that sensation. when you apply the breath to the sound it's with a feeling of a sigh. This is going to make sure that we don't have excess pressure building up inside of the throat. So there you have it friends. I hope you have enjoyed today's video. If you have please be sure to give it a thumbs up or click this Subscribe button below. I don't want to subscribe button below. I would love to see you here more often. And if you have any questions please be sure to leave them in the comments portion of today's video. Thank you so much. I love you all. Thank you for being beautiful and I will see you next time.