This lesson will build upon previous vocal exercises, focusing on the coordinated movements of the mouth, jaw, tongue, and throat to enhance students’ understanding and control of their vocal mechanisms. The lesson will successfully integrate theoretical knowledge of oral dynamics with practical, experiential learning.
In the theoretical section, students will gain insight into how the coordination of various oral structures affects voice quality and resonance. They will learn about the interplay between the mouth, jaw, tongue, and throat in producing different sounds, and how subtle adjustments can significantly impact vocal output. 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 oral dynamics in speech production. This approach will foster a deeper connection between students and their vocal mechanisms, enhancing their ability to control and refine their voice quality and resonance.
The lesson will lay the groundwork for improved articulation, greater expressive range, and a more profound appreciation for the complexity of oral coordination in speech. Students will leave with enhanced self-awareness and practical tools to continue developing their vocal control, setting the stage for more nuanced, expressive, and impactful communication in various contexts.
Furthermore, by incorporating playful exploration and focused attention on different sounds, students will develop a more holistic understanding of their vocal apparatus, potentially leading to increased confidence in their speaking abilities and a greater sense of connection with their unique voice. The focus on transforming sounds (e.g., P to B, T to D) will provide concrete examples of how small adjustments can create significant changes in vocal output, empowering students to experiment with their own vocal expressions.
Welcome back, young explorers! In our previous lessons, we discovered the incredible roles of our facial muscles, tongue, and soft palate in speech.
Today, we'll be putting it all together and exploring how the coordination of our mouth, jaw, tongue, and throat affects the way we speak. Through some fun exercises and observations, we'll learn about how we can change the sound of our voice by making small adjustments in our mouth.
Get ready to embark on an exciting adventure into the world of oral dynamics!
Have you ever noticed how the sound of your voice can change depending on how you move your mouth? It's like a secret code that unlocks different vocal superpowers! Let's find out more about this fascinating process.
First, let's watch a short video that shows us how the mouth, jaw, tongue, and throat work together during speech.
[Play video (below): "How Does the Human Body Produce Voice and Speech?" by NIH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF8rlKuSoFM ]
Now that we've seen how our oral structures coordinate, let's explore it further.
1. Your mouth, jaw, tongue, and throat are like a team of superheroes working together to create the sounds of speech.
2. When you make different sounds, your mouth and jaw open and close to different degrees. This changes the shape of your oral cavity, which affects the sound of your voice.
3. Your tongue is also a key player. It moves around in your mouth, touching your teeth, palate, and even the back of your throat to help create different sounds.
4. Your vocal folds, located in your larynx (voice box), vibrate when you speak. The sound they create is then shaped by the movements of your mouth, jaw, and tongue.
[Display diagram (below): A side view of the head and neck, showing the mouth, jaw, tongue, and throat during speech.]
Take a look at this diagram. Can you see how the different parts of your mouth work together to shape the sound of your voice? It's like a carefully choreographed dance, with each movement contributing to the final performance.
But wait, there's more! Did you know that you can change the quality of your voice by making small adjustments in your mouth? For example, try saying "ah" with your mouth open wide, and then again with your mouth only slightly open. Notice how the sound changes?
Try it and see how the sound changes!
Wow, the world of oral dynamics is truly fascinating! The next time you speak, pay attention to how your mouth, jaw, and tongue are moving. Experiment with making small changes and see how it affects the sound of your voice.
In our upcoming lesson, we'll practice some exercises to help us become more aware of these movements and how we can use them to improve our speech. Get ready to become a master of oral dynamics!
Hello everyone! In today's session, we'll be diving deeper into the world of vocal articulation and exploring how the coordination between our mouth, jaw, tongue, and throat affects the sounds we produce. Through a series of exercises and observations, we'll focus on engaging our vocal folds and experimenting with different degrees of opening our oral structures.
This lesson will help us develop a greater awareness and control over our voice quality and resonance. Remember, this is a journey of self-discovery, so let's approach it with curiosity and an open mind.
Are you ready to begin?
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 lying on your back, bending your knees, and placing your feet flat on the floor, hip-width apart.
2. Open your mouth comfortably wide and breathe in and out through your mouth.
3. As you breathe out, articulate the sound of the letter ‘P’.
When making the ‘P’ sound, notice how your lips come together and then release, allowing the air to escape in a short burst.
4. On your next exhalation, add the vibration of your vocal folds while making the ‘P’ sound.
5. Use a neutral vowel sound, similar to when you’re unsure of what to say next.
6. Transform the ‘P’ sound into a ‘B’ by sustaining a vowel throughout the exhalation.
As you transition from ‘P’ to ‘B’, feel the engagement of your vocal folds and the continuous vibration throughout the sound.
7. Experiment with different degrees of opening your mouth and jaws.
8. Notice how changes in mouth opening affect the sound of your voice.
9. Try opening the back of your mouth significantly without losing the ability to close and open your lips.
10. Rest briefly, then shift to making the ‘T’ sound.
11. As you vocalize through the ‘T’ sound, it will turn into a ‘D’.
12. Play with different degrees of opening your mouth and throat.
13. Explore how these variations influence the quality and resonance of your voice, as well as your breath use.
As you experiment with the ‘T’ and ‘D’ sounds, pay attention to how the resonance of your voice changes with different mouth and throat openings. Notice if the sound becomes more or less full, rich, or clear.
14. Repeat a similar process with the ‘K’ sound.
15. When breathing out, open your mouth and jaw as wide as possible without interfering with your ability to produce the ‘K’ sound.
16. Vocalize through these movements, transforming the ‘K’ into a different sound.
17. Experiment with varying degrees of opening your mouth, jaws, and even lips.
18. Observe the impact on the sound, quality, and resonance of your voice.
19. Rest quietly on your back and pay attention to the sensations in your face, mouth, throat, and neck.
20. Notice how it feels to roll your head from side to side.
21. Observe the quality of your breathing, where it moves in your torso, how much it moves, and the speed of your breathing movements.
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.
Great work today, everyone! You've just taken a significant step in enhancing your awareness and control over your vocal folds and oral structures. Take a moment to reflect on the sensations you experienced during the exercises and any new insights you gained about the impact of mouth, jaw, and throat coordination on your voice quality and resonance.
Remember, by becoming more attuned to these subtle variations and practicing conscious control, you can expand your vocal range and expressiveness.
Keep exploring, stay curious, and most importantly, enjoy the process of discovering the full potential of your unique voice!
Remember, at QMAK, we don’t just teach; we empower. We don’t just inform; we inspire. We don’t just question; we act. Become a Gold Member, and let’s unlock your child’s full potential, one question at a time.