The goal of the Speech Level Singing Technique is to assist you in developing a way of using your voice that allows you to sing freely and clearly anywhere in your range.
How is this accomplished? The larynx, which is the large bump in the middle of the throat just below the chin, rises up during the swallowing process. You can feel it if you put your hand on the front of your neck and swallow. At the same time, the muscles outside the larynx (outer muscles) close a flap in the throat in order to prevent food from entering the windpipe and lungs. This is essential to the swallowing process. The larynx however, is also home to the vocal chords. When the larynx rises and the outer muscles close, the free vibration of the vocal chords inside the larynx is restricted, thus resulting in a labored and unbalanced sound. With the Speech Level Singing Technique, the outer muscle activity is eliminated when singing, and the larynx stays in it’s natural, “speech level” position, resulting in a freer tone that contains a balance of top, middle and bottom harmonic qualities (like a good stereo system). It also allows for the ability to produce words easily and intelligibly while singing. Because the outer muscles are no longer involved in the creation of tone and pitch, it frees them up to assist in the formation of the words.
The Diaphragm is another muscle often associated with singing. It is the large, dome shaped muscle connected to the lungs. Many vocal coaches spend an extraordinary amount of time teaching students how to ‘breath properly.’ However, the true power of the voice is determined by the coordination of the muscles inside the larynx. To sing in a healthy manner, the vocal chords must come together with the proper balance of air and muscle strength. Speech Level Singing works with the natural breathing process of the diaphragm thereby eliminating much of the unnecessary ‘breath control’ training done with conventional teaching methods. This allows for a expedited training process.
The beauty of Speech Level Singing is that you are not learning what to sing, but rather how to sing and this can be applied to any type of music. Whether you sing pop, country, rock, rap, musical theatre, opera or any other genre of music, Speech Level Singing provides the foundation on which you can build your artistry.