(THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS TAKEN FROM THE OFFICIAL SPEECH LEVEL SINGING WEB SITE)


Basically, if the larynx stays down and the vocal cords stay together from the very bottom of the vocal range to the very top everything is fine. This also applies to all vowel and consonant combinations through out any phrase. If at any point the larynx jumps up or down or the tone becomes breathy then there is something wrong with the vocal process.

The larynx is the big bump in the middle of the neck just below the chin. This houses the vocal cords and controls the process of swallowing. When the larynx moves up, the muscles around the cords act as a sphincter and closes so as to prevent swallowing down the windpipe and into the lungs. This is a very important process when you need to swallow, but it is a very poor process when you are trying to sing. If you place your hand on your larynx and yawn, you will find that you can bring your larynx down as well. This is a good way to learn what it feels like to have the larynx stay down. The end goal here is to be able to keep the larynx from moving down as well as up. It should stay completely still as you ascend and descend.

The vocal cords, also known as vocal folds, are a pair of soft tissue cords that are joined at the front of the larynx and extend back. When they close, the back end of the cords come together (adduct), and the flow of air is temporarily stopped. When the pressure of air from the diaphragm overcomes the pressure of the muscles holding the cords together, they are blown apart and sound is made when they close again due to the resonation created. Then once again the air pressure overcomes the muscle pressure and the process begins again. If a singer is singing an A above middle C, this process happens 440 times every second. The pitch A above middle C vibrates 440 times per second. That is very fast and it is somewhat difficult to see this process happen even if you can see down the singer’s throat. Since the invention of the strobescopy it has become easier to view the vocal cord resonation process. If the vocal cords begin to come apart, the tone becomes breathy and the muscles around the outside of the larynx begin to tense. This becomes what is called a constricted phonation and is quite harmful for the voice.

This is a very brief and condensed version of what happens when you sing, there is obviously a lot more going on. But, to give you an idea of what is correct, take these two ideas and while you are singing, monitor them. See if you can keep your larynx still and your cords together. You will probably find that there is a certain area of your voice that is easy for you to accomplish this and certain points of your voice that are more difficult. These harder areas are called bridges, The key to Speech Level Singing is in understanding the bridges and the mix. Bridges in the voice are passage areas from one part of our vocal range to another. In Italian, they're called passagi - or maybe you've heard the term passagio. These passage areas are a result of vocal cord adjustments that must take place in order for us to sing high and low in our range. These vocal cord adjustments produce resonance shifts in our body.

Our first shift in resonance, or our first bridge, is our most crucial, because this is where our outer muscles are most likely to enter the picture. If they do, they tighten around the larynx in an effort to stretch the cords for the desired pitch.

Speech Level Singing clients include -

(in alphabetical order) Donnie Ray Albert Muhammad Ali Marcus Allen Julie Andrew, Luci Arnaz Armand Assante Jim Bailey Kim Bassinger Priscilla Baskerville Alan Bates Brian Bedford George Benson Angela Blasi Michael Bolton Debbie Boone Pat Boone Tom Bosley Didi Bridgewater Carol Burnett Levar Burton Belinda, Carlisle Christian Castro George Chakiris Richard Chamberlain, Stockard Channing Ray Charles Cher James Coburn Natalie Cole William Conrad MacCauley Culkin Tony Curtis John Davidson Billy Davis Jr. Susan Dey Kirsten Dunst Nancy Dussault Emanuel Lisa Eichorn Sherilyn Fenn George Firth Jane Fonda Steve Forrest

Connie Francis Rosie Gaines Peter Gallagher Terri Garr Ben Gazzara Marla Gibbs Rod Gilfrey Johnny Gill Sharon Gless Whoopi Goldberg Kathryn Grayson Melanie Griffith Robert Guillaume Gene Hackman Jonnie Halliday George Hamilton Barbara Harris Greg Harrison Lisa Hartman Goldie Hawn Howard Hewitt Clint Holmes Linda Hopkins Julio Iglesias Enrique Iglesias James Ingram Jeremy Irons Janet Jackson Joe Jackson La Toya Jackson Marlon Jackson Michael Jackson Randy Jackson Reebie Jackson Tito Jackson Sonny James Al Jarreau Anne Jefferies Waylon Jennings Ann Jilian Don Johnson Jose Jose Stacey Keach Lynn Kellogg Nicole Kidman

Val Kilmer Kevin Kline Nathan Lane Florence La Rue Eloise Laws Heather Locklear Lorna Luft Madonna Tobey Maguire George Maharis Steven Torme March Ann-Margret Cheech Marin Steve Martin Mireille Mattheiu Shirley MacLaine Marilyn McCoo Geraldine McEwan Ed McMahon Barbara McNair Bette Midler Liza Minelli Manuel Mijaris Helen Mirren Shirley Murdock Eddie Murphy Leslie Nielson Olivia Newton-John Nick Nolte Danny Nucci Sinead O'Conner Pete Onorati Ozzy Osborne CeCi Peniston Bernadette Peters Cassandra Peterson (Elvira) Ruth Pointer Bobby Pulido Prince Anthony Quinn Bonnie Raitt Molly Ringwald Lionel Ritchie Nicole Ritchie

Chita Rivera Jimmy Rodgers Daniella Romo Diana Ross John Rubinstein John Saxon Cybil Shephard Talia Shire Renee Simard Nina Simone Helen Slater David Soul Dusty Springfield Rick Springfield Frank Stallone Sylvester Stallone Connie Stevens Sharon Stone Toni Tenille Tiffany Lily Tomlin Tina Turner Tracy Ullman Brenda Vaccaro Franki Valli Joan Van Ark Sylvie Vartan Ben Vereen Eduardo Villa Jessica Walters Rachel Ward Leslie Ann Warren Ted Wass Jody Watley Carl Weathers Raquel Welch Maurice White Deniece Williams Lenny Williams Paul Williams Shanice Wilson Angela Winbush Stevie Wonder Ren Woods

Groups Speech Level Singing Has Worked With -

EN VOGUE- Terry Ellis
KISS- Paul Stanley
STEVIE WONDER- Ben Bridges, Greg Phillinganes
MOTLEY CRUE- Vince Neill, Ray Pound, Hank Redd, Mike Sembella, Nathan Watts
LOU RAWLS- Judy James, Yvonne Wright
EURYTHMICS- Anni Lennox
CHICAGO- Peter Cetera, Bill Chamberlain, Jason Scheff
BOB DYLAN- Carolyn Dennis, Helena Springs, JoAnne Harriss
FLEETWOOD MAC- Billy Burnett, SUPREMES- Diana Ross, Cindy Birdsong, Linda Laurence, Joanne Turrell, Mary Wilson,
MARVIN GAYE- Johnny Simon, Florence Lyle
SHALIMAR- Howard Hewitt
TOTO- Brian DuPlessis
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS- Anthony Kaedis
AEROSMITH- Joe Porter
LINCOLN PARK- Chester


Film-Vocal Consultant -

NEW YORK, NEW YORK- Liza Minelli
SWEET CHARITY- Shirley MacLaine,
COOL WORLD- Kim Basinger
WILD AT HEART- Nicholas Cage
PENNIES FROM HEAVEN- Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters
IDOL MAKER- Ray Sharkey, Peter Gallagher
VICTOR/VICTORIA- Lesley Anne Warren
RHINESTONE COWBOY- Sylvester Stallone
SLUGGER'S WIFE- Rebecca de Mornay
RUBY- Sherilyn Fenn
NEWSIES- Ann-Margret, Christian Bale
FOR THE BOYS- James Caan
MOSES IN EGYPT- Val Kilmer
SONGWRITER- Lesley Anne Warren
MAMBO KINGS- Armand Assante
TOMMY- Tina Turner, Ann-Margret
COLOR PURPLE- Margaret Avery, Rae Dawn Chong
THE DOORS- Val Kilmer
ROADHOUSE- Ben Gazzara
SIZZLE- Loni Anderson
DICK TRACY- Madonna
THE MARRYING MAN- Kim Basinger
JOSEPHINE BAKER STORY- voice for Josephine, Baker-Carol Dennis
I'LL DO ANYTHING- Nick Nolte, Tracy Ullman
SISTER ACT- Whoopi Goldberg
BOYS ON THE SIDE- Whoopi Goldberg
LION KING- Jeremy Irons, Whoopi Goldberg, Robert Guillaume, Cheech Marin
FAME L.A.- Heidi Lehnert, Stephanie Dicker, Tony Russel, Chris Kane, Roselyn Sanchez
SPIDER MAN 2- Toby Maguire, Kirsten Dunst