Transcription of Speaking vs. Singing - UTSA Department of Music
1 1 Singing Versus SpeakingSinging Versus SpeakingJohn Nix, , Director, Education and SpecialProjectsNational Center for Voice and SpeechDenver, COVice President for Auditions, Colorado-Wyoming chapter of the NationalAssociation of Teachers of SingingSpeaking vs. SingingSpeaking vs. Singing In Speaking ,intelligibility of themessage is theprimary goal. In Singing ,intelligibility is oftensacrificed foraesthetic vs. SingingSpeaking vs. Singing In Speaking , pitch,duration and intensityvary according to thespeaker s wishes inorder to express thecontent of themessage. In Singing , pitch,duration and intensityare prescribed by thecomposer andhis/her interpretationof the vs. SingingSpeaking vs. Singing In general, speechoccurs at loweroverall intensity levelsthan Singing andwithin a narrowerrange of intensities. Singing has a higheraverage intensitylevel than speech andfeatures a widervariation in intensitiesthan vs. SingingSpeaking vs. Singing In general, speechoccurs at lowerfrequency levels thansinging and within anarrower range offrequencies.
2 In general, singingoccurs at higherfrequencies levelsthan speech andcovers a much widerfrequency vs. SingingSpeaking vs. Singing In general, speakinguses only a smallpercentage of the vitalcapacity of the lungs(lower tidal volumewith each spokenphrase). Singing uses muchmore of the vitalcapacity (larger tidalvolume with eachsung phrase).4 Other differencesOther In Singing , vowels make up a muchgreater percentage of the total phonationtime relative to that in speech. Vowel toconsonant duration ratio in speechaverages around 5:1; in Singing , this canrange up to 200:1 (50 ms for a consonantfollowed by a 10 sec vowel)To articulate or not to articulateTo articulate or not to isthat isthe questionthe In Singing , there is much less co-articulation of consonants withsurrounding vowels. Depending on thestyle of Music being sung (Opera versusMusical Theater versus Jazz versus Pop),experienced singers vary the amount co-articulation. The more text-driven thestyle, the more co-articulation there is, andthe more speech-like the idea really resonatesThat idea really Because Singing has a wider frequency andintensity range than speech, features vowelswhich are long in duration, and a larger overallvocal tract, one could say that Singing is indeed more resonant than speech.
3 Singers favorvocal tract changes which enhance optimalresonance, particularly at pitch extremes andregister transitions (passaggi), while movementsmade in Speaking favor clear articulation. We canWe can t hear you. You needt hear you. You needto project more!to project more! Can a singer or speaker project his orher voice in a large hall or theater? No. Why not? Once the sound waves exit thesinger/speaker s mouth, there is nothingyou can do to make the words moreintelligible or to make the sound travelfarther or faster. So what can a singer do?6 Get a little closer,Get a little closer, now don now don t be shyt be .. Teachers typically advise young signers to movedownstage to get closer to the of sound is inversely proportional to theradius from the source squared. So if you cutthe distance between you and the listener inhalf, the listener gets a 6 dB increase in SPL; ifyou double your distance from them, they lose 6dB. They just have to be sure they don t step offthe front of the stage into the orchestra pit!
4 Here are some other strategiesHere are some other strategiessingers use to be heard:singers use to be heard: Increased subglottic pressure (respiratoryeffort) Resonance adjustments Adjust vocal fold adduction (less steepspectral slope more intensity to higherpartials)7 What do you mean you canWhat do you mean you can tthear me? Ihear me? I m trying to project!m trying to project! When we push, we: Over-adduct our vocal folds Overwork breathing-wise Get constrictive tensions which negategood resonanc
