Methods
In June 2007 Julian McGlashan and Cathrine Sadolin performed an endoscopy study at CVI in Copenhagen.
Twenty-one singers (ten males and ten females) trained in the Complete Vocal Technique were recruited and asked to produce a sustained vowel in each mode. Each singer was instructed to produce the mode as perfect (near to the centre of the mode) as possible with minimal additional effects, twang and extremes of sound colour. The larynx was imaged using a videonasoendoscopic camera system (OTVS7 camera and ENFV2 videoscope from Olympus/Keymed) and the Laryngostrobe system (from Laryngograph Ltd) used for image capture.
Three subjects were excluded as they could either not tolerate the examination (1) or the image quality was not adequate for interpretation (2).
When looking at these videos certain patterns were seen in the laryngeal gestures within each mode. A still image for each of the modes was produced from the videos. The still images were chosen by listening to the sound without seeing the images and extracting the stills when the sound was as close to the centre of the mode as possible.
Each set of five (Neutral with and without air were viewed separately) video images were analysed by Julian McGlashan and Cathrine Sadolin and the appearance and relationship between the key anatomical features was agreed by consensus and documented. The consistent features were identified and schematic drawings produced with descriptive and explanatory text to aid pattern recognition.
Then these laryngeal gestures were schematized by the most obvious gestures (the ’first glance’) and then further examined and categorized into what could be seen at a ‘second glance’.
We gave the various parts in the vocal tract levels in order to identify and specify on which levels the various changes take place. The levels also make it easier to communicate where the changes take place. On the stills from the footage only the first 3-4 levels are seen.
To indentify the structures on the endoscopic images see the anatomy of the larynx.
The ‘first glance’ laryngeal gestures in Neutral with air on the levels are:
Level 1
- Glottic gap along vocal folds, greatest posteriorly
- Vocal folds seen along their entire width posteriorly
- Vocl folds seen along most of their length
Level 2
- False cords retracted laterally (concave appearance), more so posteriorly
Level 3
- Arytenoids splinted apart (gap between them)
- Posterior wall or pharynx more rounded
In everyday language:
Notice the visible gap between the vocal folds, which is bigger at the back. You can see that the back wall of the larynx is relaxed leaving the larynx open so you can see the vocal folds easily.
The ‘second glance’ laryngeal gestures in Neutral with air on the levels are:
Level 3
- Gap between the arytenoid tip and posterior pharyngeal wall
- Acute angle of apex of arytenoids
- Can see corniculate cartilage at apex of arytenoid
- Cuneiform cartilages not obscuring false cords at all
- Aryepiglottic fold stretched
- Sharp edged aryepiglottic fold medial
- Epiglottis rounded
Level 4
- Piriform sinuses more triangular shaped and open
- Supraglottis open funnel shaped
In everyday language:
You can also see the aryepiglottic fold is stretcheded and relaxed and the opening of the larynx (the laryngeal inlet) has a shape of an ‘open’ funnel which is rather wide at the top.
The laryngeal gestures in Neutral with air without drawings
This information comes from a study Visual Vocal Mode Test Study on stills, 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 was presented by Cathrine Sadolin and Julian McGlashan at BVA ‘Choice for voice’ conference in London, England, 2010.