Here you see the videoclips of Curbing. The videos are taken using a flexible endoscope inserted via the nose. Stroboscopic light is used so the vibration of the vocal folds can be seen in slow motion. The flashing of the stroboscopic light is triggered using the Laryngograph signal. This is obtained by placing two electrodes placed on the neck over the larynx and the waveform can be seen as a a green moving line at the bottom of the image. When the vocal folds are vibrating and touch each other the green line rises and when they peel apart the line falls creating the change in shape of the waveform.
In the video example below notice the louder and ‘restrained’ character of the sound and the visual appearance and waveform of Curbing.
In Curbing the false folds approach each other slightly, covering some (the lateral aspect) of the vocal folds. The front and the back of the laryngeal opening approach each other, making the angle sharper between the aryepiglottic folds and the lower part of the epiglottis. The opening of the larynx is more narrowed, creating an angle between the arytenoids and the aryepiglottic fold. The cuneiforms are also rolled in a bit.
Also notice the Curbing laryngograph waveform. It shows a steep onset and a fairly long closure of the vocal folds with a roll off compared to Neutral. The steep onset indicates that the vocal folds are coming together rapidly and the wider shape indicates that the vocal folds stay together for longer, which corresponds nicely with the louder volume often used in Curbing.
Sustained single notes in Curbing
The first video is a male singing on a sustained single note (C3, 250 Hz) on the vowel I (as in ‘sit’) in Curbing.
This video is a female singing on a sustained single note (Bb4, 480 Hz) on the vowel I (as in ‘sit’) in Curbing.
Song in Curbing
This video is a male singing the first four bars of “Somewhere over the rainbow” in Curbing.
This video is a female singing the first four bars of “Somewhere over the rainbow” in Curbing. The electrodes of the Laryngograph did not pick up the correct signal so the waveform looks weird.
Glissando in Curbing
This video is a male singing a glissando from low pitch to high pitch returning to low pitch again on the vowel O (as in ‘woman’) in Curbing. Notice that the waveform stays the same through the Curbing pitches – it just gets narrower as the pitch increases.
This video is a female singing a glissando from low pitch to high pitch returning to low pitch again on the vowel I (as in ‘sit’) vowel, in Curbing. Notice that the shape of the waveform stays the same through the Curbing pitches – it just gets narrower as the pitch increases.
This information comes from a study Visual Vocal Mode Test Study on video, with the title ‘Laryngeal gestures and Laryngograph data associated with the four vocal modes as described in the Complete Vocal Technique method of singing teaching.’ This study has not yet been presented.