This lesson will build upon previous vocal exercises, focusing specifically on soft palate awareness and coordination to enhance students’ understanding and control of their articulatory mechanisms. The lesson will successfully integrate theoretical knowledge of soft palate anatomy and function with practical, experiential learning.
In the theoretical section, students will gain insight into the structure and function of the soft palate in speech production. They will learn about the soft palate’s role in velopharyngeal closure, its interaction with the tongue, and its importance in producing sounds like ‘K’ and ‘G’. This foundational knowledge will prepare them for the hands-on exercises to follow.
During the practical portion of the lesson, participants will:
By combining anatomical understanding with experiential exercises, students will achieve a more nuanced comprehension of soft palate coordination in speech production. This approach will foster a deeper connection between students and their articulatory mechanisms, enhancing their ability to control and refine their speech production.
The lesson will lay the groundwork for improved articulation, greater expressive range, and a more profound appreciation for the complexity of soft palate movements in speech. Students will leave with enhanced self-awareness and practical tools to continue developing their soft palate control, setting the stage for clearer, more precise, and more expressive communication in various contexts.
Furthermore, by incorporating imaginative exercises and sensory exploration, students will develop a more holistic understanding of their oral anatomy, potentially leading to increased confidence in their speaking abilities and a greater sense of connection with their vocal instrument. The focus on the ‘K’ sound will provide a concrete example of how this often overlooked part of the vocal apparatus contributes significantly to clear and articulate speech.
Welcome back, curious learners! In our previous lessons, we explored the amazing roles of our facial muscles and tongue in speech. Today, we'll be focusing on another important part of our mouth: the soft palate! Through some fun exercises and observations, we'll learn about how the soft palate and the back of our throat help us make certain sounds, like the 'K' sound. Get ready to embark on a thrilling adventure into the mysterious world of the soft palate!
Have you ever wondered how we make sounds like 'K' or 'G'? It's all thanks to a hidden superhero in the back of our mouth called the soft palate! Let's find out more about this fascinating part of our vocal anatomy.
First, let's watch a short video about a 9 year old girl named Millie.
[Play video: "Science for Kids - Learn About the Soft Palate by Operation Ouch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iAsUMkMAfk ]
Now that we've seen the soft palate in action, let's explore it further.
1. The soft palate is a muscular flap located at the back of the roof of your mouth. It's also called the velum.
2. When you're breathing normally, the soft palate is relaxed and hangs down, allowing air to pass through your nose and mouth.
3. When you speak, the soft palate rises and closes off the nasal passage, directing the air through your mouth instead. This is called velopharyngeal closure.
4. To make the 'K' sound, the back of your tongue rises and touches the soft palate briefly, stopping the air flow. When the tongue lowers, the air is released, creating the 'K' sound.
[Display diagram (below): A side view of the head and neck, showing the location of the soft palate and its position during speech.]
Take a look at this diagram. Can you see how the soft palate is positioned at the back of the mouth? When it rises, it helps direct the air through the mouth, which is essential for making many speech sounds.
But wait, there's more! Did you know that the soft palate also plays a role in swallowing? When you swallow, the soft palate closes off the nasal passage, preventing food and liquid from going up into your nose.
Try it and see if you can sense the back of your tongue touching your soft palate!
Wow, the soft palate is truly a hidden superhero in our mouths! The next time you make a 'K' or 'G' sound, think about the amazing work your soft palate is doing behind the scenes. In our upcoming lesson, we'll practice some exercises to help us become more aware of our soft palate's movements and how they contribute to clear speech. Get ready to give your soft palate the attention it deserves!
Hello everyone! Today, we're going to continue our exploration of vocal articulation, focusing on the fascinating role of the throat and soft palate in producing the 'K' sound. Through a series of gentle exercises and observations, we'll develop a deeper understanding of how the back of our mouth and throat contribute to the sounds we make.
This lesson will help us improve our vocal coordination, control, and sensitivity in these important areas. Remember, this is a process of discovery, so let's approach it with curiosity and an open mind. Are you ready to dive in?
Before we start, let's record a vocal reference so that we can compare the quality of your voice now with it at the end of the lesson.
Let's pretend you are hired as the professional voice talent for a fictional audiobook.
Here is your paragraph.
"In the quiet evening, the small waves gently talked to the sandy beach. Each word was clear and floated easily through the cool air. As I listened, the soft sounds of the waves mixed with the whispering leaves, making a beautiful song that made me feel calm and happy about the world around us."
Let's say it a couple more times and listen to how your voice resonates.
What kind of action is involved if you decide to say it louder?
What changes in your torso, breathing, face?
How loud can you get without straining?
And how would you know if you're straining?
Now, observe what is involved in saying it really quietly.
What happens to your breath?
What happens to the muscles of your throat, your jaw, your face?
Notice if the sounds flow smoothly together or if they're a bit disconnected and choppy.
What is the connection between the flow of the breath and the flow of the sounds?
Pay attention to the relationship between the amount of air that you store in your lungs and the requirement of speaking out the entire paragraph.
Don't worry if you can't find the answers right now.
What's important is that you look for the answers.
Record yourself on a phone or computer saying this paragraph and once you're done lets begin the lesson.
1. Start by bending your knees and placing your feet flat on the floor, hip-width apart.
2. Open your mouth comfortably and breathe in and out through your mouth.
3. Articulate the sound ‘K’ as in ‘Kevin’ during exhalation.
As you make the ‘K’ sound, pay attention to the movements in the back of your mouth. Notice how your tongue and soft palate work together to stop and release the airflow.
4. Notice how you stop and release airflow to make the ‘K’ sound, focusing on movements in the back of your mouth.
5. Observe the role of the middle part of your tongue and the soft palate in producing the sound.
6. Rest briefly, then gently touch the roof of your mouth with the tip of your right index finger, just behind your upper teeth.
7. Slide your finger towards the back of your mouth, feeling the transition from hard to soft palate.
As you explore the roof of your mouth, notice the change in texture as you move from the hard palate behind your teeth to the softer, more yielding tissue towards the back.
8. Avoid going too far back; keep the exploration comfortable.
9. Slide your finger forward and backward a few times, then rest and remove your finger.
10. Imagine something smooth sliding on your palate, extending from behind the upper teeth towards the throat.
11. Extend your imagination down to the base of your neck and back, repeating this several times.
12. Rest and sense the space inside your mouth, the shape of your palate, and the opening of your throat.
13. Feel the state of the muscles around your larynx and in the back of your neck.
14. Slowly roll your head from side to side, noticing any changes in sensation.
15. Resume the ‘K’ sound articulation, focusing on tongue and soft palate movements.
16. Try increasing the distance between the tongue and soft palate when releasing the air.
17. Experiment with making the tongue move further away from the roof of your mouth during sound production.
18. Alternate emphasizing movement on the right and left sides of your throat.
As you shift the emphasis from one side of your throat to the other, notice if there are any differences in ease or clarity of the ‘K’ sound production.
19. Notice changes in head position, neck curvature, and torso shape as you shift emphasis.
20. Return to using the back of your mouth evenly for sound production.
21. Rest on your back, sensing your mouth, throat, tongue, and breathing.
These questions can be asked during the activity or at the conclusion.
Remember the audio recording we did before the start of the lesson?
Here is the paragraph again.
"In the quiet evening, the small waves gently talked to the sandy beach. Each word was clear and floated easily through the cool air. As I listened, the soft sounds of the waves mixed with the whispering leaves, making a beautiful song that made me feel calm and happy about the world around us."
Recite it a few times in a standing position. Pay attention to flow of breath and how whether or not the sounds are smoother and more effortless.
Play around with volumes and go over the questions review the questions you might not have had the answers to before the first time.
Finally, record yourself saying the paragraph and once you're done, compare the quality of your voice now relative to the quality you had before doing this lesson.
Fantastic work today, everyone! You've just taken a significant step in enhancing your awareness and control of the throat and soft palate in vocal articulation. Take a moment to reflect on the sensations you experienced during the exercises and any new insights you gained about the role of the back of your mouth in producing sounds.
Remember, by becoming more aware of these subtle movements and sensations and practicing conscious control, you can improve your vocal clarity, expressiveness, and overall coordination.
Keep exploring, stay curious, and most importantly, enjoy the process of unlocking your full vocal potential!
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