Exercices de Posture Vocale

• The sternothyroid muscle is mainly responsible for lowering the larynx
• Elements studied in vocal emission balance: Accuracy, homogeneity, and timbre.
• Sound placement is important because it promotes better projection and vocal resonance.

Posture exercises

• The main goal of postural exercises (head oscillations and stabilization) is to allow the patient to feel and become aware of their balance line, aligning the top of the skull with the neck to improve postural reflexes and verticality
• To evaluate the stability of the balance line, a practical method involves placing a hand on the top of the head and gently moving it left and right to observe if the neck reacts fluidly and without excessive tension.
• Instructions to regain/maintain vertical balance from a standing position involve slightly spreading the feet (hip-width apart) and shifting body weight from one foot to the other to test and re-establish balanced weight distribution.
• Trunk alignment (venter, chest, head) is important in maintaining static posture
• When verifying stable equilibrium, light left-right oscillations on the pelvis are performed to observe how knees/ankles react, ensuring verticality.

Vocal Technique and Larynx

• In optimal vocal configuration with high IRL, the larynx is free, balanced, and vibrates as if weightless
• Voice "coverage" refers to a balance between high subglottic pressure and high IRL (Impedance Reduced on the Larynx), ensuring a projected voice without forcing
• The concept of "air column" is a mass of exhaled air under pressure, from the diaphragm to the supraglottic cavities, with noticeable support at the top.
• Vocal cords act as both a sphincter and vibrator, so they must resist air pressure while remaining flexible ensuring the glottal closure and vibration necessary for phonation
• Architectural conditions of the resonators that favor the IRL (Impedance Reduced on the Larynx) and good voice placement include a tongue spread on the floor of the mouth, a dilated pharynx, and a vertically open mouth.
• In vocal placement, a low IRL on the larynx leads to increased subglottic pressure, which induces to vocal strain
• "Coverage" in high IRL doesn't include laryngeal tightness due to overpressure

Pressure in Vocal Technique

• Low subglottic pressure in voice placement produces lower voice projection and is exposed to vocal strain
• Supraglottic resonance returns some of the vibratory waves towards the larynx to sustain its function
• The use of the air column in vocal pedagogy refers to the mass of supraglottic air.
• A high IRL doesn't help to a low IRL.
• A low IRL causes the mouth to be horizontally opened and the tongue in the back if the throat.
• A low IRL leads to a vocal strain with laryngeal crispation

Vocal Assessment

• The Dejonckere Dysphonic Profile includes a question about preferred voice type.
• Maximum Phonation Time (MPT) measures the ability of the vocal cords to produce a continuous sound.
• A standardized perceptual scale is the most reliable tool for evaluating vocal quality.
• Light stroboscopy for cords examination need to be slightly misaligned with the fundamental frequency
• "Roughness" in the GRBAS scale assesses vocal hoarseness or irregularity of vocal vibrations.
• An hourglass glottis has a medial contact of cords while phonating
• The average normal duration of MPT in a healthy adult is 15-20 seconds.
• Jitter measures frequency variability while shimmer measures amplitude variability

Voice and Breathing

• During sound genesis, a "modulating" interaction happens between cords ( acting as both sphincter and vibrator) and breath (providing the energy)
• "Voice setting" implies aligning breath, vibrator, resonnators
• "Positioned voice" comes from balanced subglottic and supraglottic pressure
• Low IRL leads to low subglottic pressure and low voice
• Shortened pharyngo-buccal pavillion leads to low IRL
• Vocal strain occurs with high subglottic pressure and low IRL.
• For a high IRL the orbicular projected forward favores sound exiting
• Detente on the tension triad loosens vocal chords
• The phonatory breath must be controled unlike vital breathing

Posture and Voice

• Standing with economical spacing (hips width feet apart) with alternating body weigth balances body mass
• Impaired verticallity (shoulders slumping with chest depression) impinge efficience of the vocal projection.

Relaxation Techniques for Vocal Health

• Releasing neck tension involves gentle head flexing or rocking.
• Head balance promotes vocal vibration.
• The main goal of body relaxation is obtaining muscle relaxation to enhance energy control.
• Schultz’s method relies on hetero- or auto-suggestion.
• The first stage of Schultz's autogenic training works the feeling of heaviness in the limbs.
• An inexperienced practitioner can cause anxiety attacks when pratising autogenic training
• Jacobson's method involves conscious control of muscle tension and relaxation.
• Wintrebert's method aims for complete muscular relaxation in three steps.
• Sophrology relies on mental suggestion and imagery, akin to hypnosis.
• One fundamental object of abdominal breathing is gaining calm and relaxation

Anatomy

• Key sub-hyoids mucles are digastric, mylo-hyoid, genio-hyoïd, stylo-hyoïd
• The acoustic tripod height intensity timbre.
• Vocal move analysis observes body height, breathing and phonetic coordination
• Glottis rupture a sudden tightning of the vocal cords
• Taking a quick air intake means resperatory imbalance
• Touch assess vocal mobility
• Stylo-hyoids allows hyoids and sinus raising
• Thyro-arytenoids isn't a suspensor muscule

Anatomy and Biomechanics

• In chest costal mechanics, a line defines movement's axe.
• Lateral chest expansion provides informations of vertical movement
• Spine extansion cause ribs to tighten reducing inspirarion
• Forced voice cause spinal injuried.
• During breathing, chest and abdominal systems are sollicited
• Incrasing breathing uses sternocleid.

Laryngoscopy

• Laringoscopy detects surface issues
• Simple assessment determines amplitude
• Strobolarongoscopy split vibratory movies
• The vibratory frequence reduce from high to low
• Muscous undulation shows muscles elasticity
• GRBAS assess verbal quality
• Stroboscopy can only assesses the voice

Miscellaneous

• Lower tensions on vocal cords reduces sub-cardiac tensions.
• Typical women's frequence is 200 to 520 Hz
• Breath is when hear audible breath
• VHI test physical function with emotions
• Having tension can come psycologycly cause
• Moderate rising glottis tension
• The supraglottic volume prevents a high subglottique tension,

Study notes marked as follows:

• Test 2 is marked at the first questions' answers (1, 2, 3, etc... A, B, C codes)
• Test 3 is marked at the first questions' answers (1, 2, 3, etc... A, B, C codes)
• Test 5 is marked at the first questions' answers (1, 2, 3, etc... A, B, C codes)
• Test 6 and 7 are marked using the same system.