Step 7 Exam Name* First Last Email* HOW YOUR VOICE WORKS1. If your singer experiences hoarseness for longer than _____, or any of the other indications of vocal trauma listed below, have them go to an ENT or otolaryngologist to be ___ (undergo stroboscopy, preferably rigid stroboscopy) before continuing with lessons or singing engagements.* two months, examined two days, referred two weeks, scoped 2. Most vocal issues such as cysts (nodules, polyps, and hemorrhages) happen because of ____ trauma to the vocal folds. Less often, but still a possibility, an issue such as a polyp occurs with a _____ event, such as screaming at an outdoor football game, or singing for an evening when the vocal folds are compromised and swollen.* repeated, single ongoing, unique both of the above 3. Swelling of the vocal folds due to illness, fatigue, or poor vocal technique prevents midline vocal fold _____. Manifestations of trauma such as nodules, polyps, and hemorrhages are the result of extended vocal ____ and make midline closure impossible.* closure, abuse adduction, overuse both of the above 4. Singing too loudly, too long, or with too much air pressure will result in ____, or swelling of the folds, which then leads to further issues if not addressed by vocal rest, rehabilitation, and better vocal technique. Most of these issues, once manifested, tend to ____.* edema, reoccur swelling, happen again both of the above 5. The most common result of vocal trauma is vocal fold ____, generally seen in three forms; _____, ____, _____.* lesions; nodules, polyps, and cysts problems, bumps, swelling, and growths nodules, cysts, polyps, and granuloma 6. A change in ___ and persistent ____ are often the first warning signs of a vocal cord lesion. Other symptoms can include: _____, delayed voice ____, inability to sing high, ____ notes, extra ___ needed to produce tone.* habits, mistakes, hoarseness, tiredness, onset, loud, energy voice quality, hoarseness, fatigue, initiation, soft, force timbre, fatigue, breathiness, onset, loud, force, power 7. Nodules appear in the area of the folds where ___ between the folds is most forceful. They are often present on both folds, facing each other, at the ____ of the vocal folds.* contact, midpoint meeting, endpoint both of the above 8. The inability to sing ___ and ___ notes is one of the hallmarks of nodules; there is a delay in the ____ of the sound, with an audible air escape, and then the sound starts abruptly. Nodules are a natural response to increased trauma, similar to ___ on the hands.* loud and strong, sustain, bumps high and soft, onset, calluses low and loud, beginning, swelling 9. Surgery is ____ unless the singer has a committed attitude toward changing the habits that created the issue in the first place. The solution for nodules is dependent upon their _____ and _____.* helpful, size and depth useless, age and hardness both of the above 10. The best steps to prevent nodules are: develop and maintain good ____, use caution regarding ____of the voice. Hoarseness or breathiness that lasts for more than ____ may signal a voice disorder and should be followed up with an otolaryngologist or ENT.* habits, abuse, two months vocal technique, overuse, two weeks records, pushing, six weeks 11. A nodule is like a ____ and a polyp is like a ____. Long-term cigarette smoking, hypothyroidism, and ___ (acid reflux) may also cause polyp formation.* blister, callous, NERD swelling, bump, BERD callous, blister, GERD 12. Polyps, like nodules, may respond to treatment but tend to ____ if vocal habits are not changed and permanently maintained.* reappear happen again both of the above 13. A cyst is an air, fluid, or semi-solid substance- filled ____ which can develop in any part of the body including bones, organs or soft tissues whereas a polyp is an abnormal growth of ___, protruding from the mucous membrane. Cysts often occur near the ____ of the vocal fold.* hole, membrane, center growth, mucosa, back cavity, tissue, mid-portion 14. The cyst causes a portion of the vocal fold mucosa to become stiff, preventing normal ____ and affecting ease of production. Indications of a cyst forming may include abnormal ___, vocal fatigue, discomfort or pain associated with ____,interference with breathing, and a sense of something irritating in the throat that needs to be cleared or coughed away.* activity, singing, yelling singing, talking, whispering vibration, voice quality, talking 15. Hemorrhage is the result of the rupture of a blood vessel on the vocal fold that creates bleeding into the ____ of the fold. Sometimes the bleed becomes encapsulated into a ____. Hemorrhage is typically an _____ event; the voice may suddenly “cut out” or become very weak, breathy, or rough.* epethelium, granuloma, ongoing mucosa, cyst or polyp, acute (sudden) body, nodule, unique 16. Vocal fold hemorrhage may happen when ______ products (an anticoagulant) or ____ (a vasodilator) are used and is more common in women during the _____ cycle.* alcohol, aspirin, vibrational blood thinning, aspirin, vibrational aspirin, alcohol, menstrual 17. A granuloma is a benign growth that typically occurs in the ____ part of the larynx, either directly on the vocal fold or on one of the mucosal surfaces nearby. A large enough lesion may obstruct the _____.* anterior, (front), trachea mid section, esophagus posterior (back), airway 18. Granulomas can occur in a number of ways, but most are related to some acute or chronic injury, such as trauma from ___ during surgery, an extended bout of coughing or other vocal trauma, chronic acid reflux ____, mild chronic trauma such as frequent ___, and poor vocal technique while singing.* oversinging, GERD/LPRD, talking surgery, GERD/LPRD, singing intubation, GERD/LPRD, throat-clearing 19. The most common vocal complaint from adults is vocal strain (hyperkinetic dysphonia) from _____ of the vocal muscles while singing or speaking. Dysphonia is due to poor voice production and occurs often in tense individuals who speak or sing for a _____. They tend to squeeze the extrinsic muscles surrounding the vocal tract as a result of poor _____.* overuse, living, breath support underuse, long time, appoggio abuse, one evening, habits 20. Muscle tension dysphonia occurs when excessive laryngeal muscle _____ squeezes the vocal folds and surrounding muscles into a “fist” configuration, preventing air from moving through the vocal folds to enable normal vibration. Indications include throat _____, muscle aches in the neck while talking or singing, rough, hoarse voice that gets worse with continued use, throat or neck pain when talking, excessive use of the ____ and surrounding supraglottic musculature, and persistent straining and pressing of the voice.* tightness, tension, voice activity, looseness, soft palate tension, tightness, false vocal folds 21. MTD occurs when the external laryngeal muscles are either too ____ or are ____ in the speaking or singing voice. When this happens, the vocal folds do not function properly. _____ can also contribute to dysphonia.* tight, over-used, medications loose, under-used, talking soft, hard, age 22. Acid reflux is a condition in which stomach acids rise into the _____ because the _____ that separates the stomach contents from the esophagus is faulty. The stomach produces strong ____ and enzymes (gastric juices) which are used in food digestion.* trachea, sphincter, bile sphincter, valve, acids esophagus, valve, acids 23. Presbylaryngis is caused by _____ and thinning of the muscles and tissues due to _____.* overuse, singing deterioration, aging abuse, talking 24. Any vocal issue that persists more than _____ should be investigated by a visit to an ENT (ear, nose and throat doctor) or an otolaryngologist. Singers who undergo surgery should insist on SMALL sized tubes for _____.* two months, breathing six weeks, saline two weeks, intubation 25. Lack of sleep produces _____ of the tissues. Singers should think in terms of having a limited vocal "____".* redness, bandwidth edema or swelling, budget dryness, lifespan 26. Dr. Van Lawrence, a world-renowned ENT (ear, nose and throat specialist) has been credited with saying "Drink___ until you ___".* soda, are full water, pee pale beer, pee often 27. Daily ____ exercise is good for all the cells of the body including the vocal folds, and heart pumping deep breathing exercises help you stay in shape for performing.* anaerobic strength training aerobic 28. Any food item that causes your body to secrete _____ should be avoided; this is the body’s way of reacting to a perceived toxin and inflammation.* bile phlegm blood 29. Avoid ______ environments.* noisy smoky both of the above 30. Be aware of your ______ voice.* speaking shouting singing 31. ____ is singing at half volume or an octave lower to save your voice during loud or long rehearsals.* highlighting lowlighting marking 32. Protect your fragile and irreplaceable instrument by refusing to sing too ____ or too _____.* often or too late long or too loud high or too low 33. Like athletes, singers must _____ daily. They also know when to _____.* exercise, stop stretch, breathe visualize, practice 34. Gargling, teas, lozenges, sprays do not touch the ____; they won’t minimize swelling of the folds.* vocal folds trachea espohpagus 35. _____, if inhaled, will hydrate the vocal folds and help minimize swelling. A _____ is a small, portable device that converts liquid medicine into a fine mist you inhale by breathing through a mouthpiece or mask.* saline, steamer steam or mist, nebulizer water, inhaler 36. The ____ exercises help restore voices that are damaged or fatigued.* voiced fricatives semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT) adducted onset 37. The _____ voice needs to be pitched properly, placed in the _____, and supported with a low _____ and the muscles of appoggio.* speaking, mask, breath singing, chest, inhale lecturing, head, support 38. Singing too loudly, too long, or with too much air pressure will result in ____, or swelling of the folds, which then leads to further issues if not corrected by vocal rest, rehabilitation, and better vocal technique. Most of these issues, once manifested, tend to ____.* edema, reoccur swelling, happen again both of the above TOOLS FOR TRAINING VOICESCOMBINING THE SLAS TOOLS: THE TOOL CHARTS39. The ______ tracks provide more ____ syllable options. Remember to think about your ____ when choosing alternate options.* alternate, challenging, objectives opposing, helpful, goals useful, harder, problems 40. If your student is currently in the Undeveloped category (their voice has a breathy sound from bottom to top), they will need exercises that more efficiently _____ the vocal folds. If your student’s voice is Unbalanced-Pulled Lower (they strain and push the lower register too high) they will benefit from exercises that create more _____ such as the semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT) exercises. Imposed larynx exercises such as the “dumb” “hooty” sounds activate the depressor muscles to counteract a high ____, which is intrinsic to pulled lower. If your student’s category is Unbalanced-Pulled Lower, your objective is to generate less strain. We need greater release in the lower register, but better ____ in the upper register. If your student’s voice is Unbalanced-Light Lower (weaker or breathier on the bottom notes than on the top), they will benefit from exercises that help to more efficiently adduct the vocal folds, particularly in the _____ .* release, adduct, vocal folds, trachea, upper register power, abduct, tongue, vocal fold abduction, lower register adduct, release, larynx, vocal fold adduction, lower register 41. The Tool Charts will help you to select the right combination of ____, and other tools to create exercises that will give you the best results.* vowels, consonants, scales songs, riffs, and runs reading, memorizing, and writing TEACHING THE STEPADVANCED MUSICAL SKILLS: DYNAMICS, FLEXIBILITY, ADVANCED VIBRATO, STEPWISE MOTION, POWER, SINGING SONGS42. In Step Seven, we are working on _____ skills and learning to apply these skills to singing ____.* advanced, songs complicated, scales developmental, better 43. Crescendo means to get ___, and decrescendo/diminuendo means to get _____. Increasing volume requires ‘just enough and not too much’ increased ____ and a corresponding increase in vocal fold tension. Messa di voce is a skillful ____.* softer, louder, breath pressure, increased volume, diminuendo louder, softer, dynamics, increased volume, crescendo/decrescendo louder, softer, air pressure, reduced volume, crescendo/decrescendo 44. ____ exercises build a healthy, elastic, and pliable vocal instrument and prepare your student to execute clean riffs and runs in Step Eight- Style.* power dynamics flexibility 45. Vibrato is an oscillation or slight variation of frequency (perceived as pitch) and/or amplitude. _____ variations of a quarter step above the mean of the pitch and a quarter step below are pleasing to the ear. In contemporary singing, vibrato rate is usually from _____ oscillations per second; classical singers' vibrato rates can be faster. Faster “flutter” vibratos (______) are not contemporary sounding and vibratos that are too slow exhibit too much _______ (wobble).* vibrato, 6-8, wobble, amplitude variate frequency, 5-7, tremolo, pitch variation tremolo, 5-7, flutter, fundamental variation 46. Evidence of incorrect vibrato includes a shaking ____, a pulsating _____, and uneven _____.* jaw, tongue, modulation tongue, jaw, amplitude head, throat, sound 47. Vibrato rates can vary to match the rhythmic _____ of the music.* beat pulsation subdivisions 48. Vibrato is learned by ____, whether conscious or unconscious.* formation subjegation imitation 49. Vibrato is created with an oscillation of _____; with the pulse vibrato, the oscillating effect is created with changes in ____.* fortitude, dynamics amplitude, volume pitch, amplitude 50. Pitch change up vibrato is made at the ____ level.* laryngeal tracheal pharyngeal 51. With delayed vibrato, the singer _____ a pitch with a _____ tone then allows the release of the vibrato to occur.* sustains, straight produces, wavering allows, focused 52. When singing words with diphthongs, remember to delay the ____ vowel sound of the diphthong. The second vowel is more ____ than the vowel it preceeds.* incorrect, correct first, open second, closed 53. In Step Seven we encourage a _____ and less obtrusive vibrato. Vibrato should be tailored to the _____ of music. The presence of vibrato indicates good _____. When singing the vibrato exercises with the recording it is important that the ___ of vibrato matches the guide on the recording- neither too fast nor too slow. Do your ____ by listening to singers of many different eras.* slower, volume, technique, pulse, homework faster, style, balance, rate, research steady, dynamics, support, pitch, practice 54. It’s easier to sing wider _____ than to sing melodies in stepwise motion. We can create greater ease in transitioning through the primo passaggio with ____.* melodies, consonants octaves, connection intervals, vowel modification 55. When working on increased power, we need to coordinate and balance four components of our vocal system:A balanced ____, the balance of ____ activity, balanced ____, or more precisely formant/harmonic activity,the balance of air pressure and vocal fold resistance, or ____.* placement, LCA/TA muscle, chiaroscuro, muscle and air onset, resonance, phonation, extrinsic, dynamics onset, TA/CT muscle, resonance, air and muscle 56. To improve vocal technique, however, you should choose songs that _____ or are the opposite of your student's current vocal habits.* interact support counteract 57. OBJECTIVES IN SINGING SONGS:Appropriate ___ ____ ____ appropriate ____ _____ and balanced _____.* volume, soft palate position, phonation dynamics, larynx height, approach vocal fold adduction, laryngeal position, onset 58. To avoid the problem of voice breaks when singing from a low pitch to a high pitch, singers must learn to coordinate the vocal mechanism by allowing the lengthening/thinning of the _____; they cannot remain ___, A stable _____ position provides a consistent tone.* vocal tract, short, throat vocal folds, static, laryngeal throat space, lengthened, mouth 59. Consistent tone quality requires good vocal fold adduction at the ____ of tone and even ____ throughout the range (no flipping).* beginning, timbre start, dynamics onset, compression 60. Registration issues are often problems of ____ adjustment. Resonance adjustment occurs with effective ____ tuning as a result of vowel modification. Often a more ____ vowel is substituted for an open vowel to encourage an easy transition through the passaggi or bridges of the voice.* resonance, formant, closed attitude, vowel, open resonance, formant, closed 61. Dropping the jaw and creating more resonating space is necessary for ___ pitches. When the vowel is not modified, singers begin to employ ___ interfering muscular action to compensate; ____ vowels tend to create more "hold".* higher, extrinsic, open lower, intrinsic, closed louder, incorrect, open 62. When singing from low to high pitches, the singer must maintain a moderate _____, particularly on the highest notes of the lower register (the ____ to the first bridge.* dynamics, beginning approach, pathway volume, approach 63. Keep the mouth neutral and don’t _____the lips. Remind the student “_____ on the chin, thumb and finger on either side of the mouth, corners in, jaw down.” They can show two teeth in front (_____ shape) but not ten teeth in front. A singer needs more ______ space as they go higher in pitch, but not more horizontal space.* widen, palm, pear biting, lateral spread, palm, apple biting, vertical push out, palm, neutral, vertical 64. Straining usually occurs in the notes approaching and in the ______. To counteract this, substitute a slightly more ______ vowel for the open vowel that is causing the singer to pull the lower register too high. Modify a front vowel to its next closest and more closed _____ neighbor, and a back vowel to its next closest and more closed back neighbor using the Vowel Modification Chart.* primo passaggio, open, closed, back transition, closed, closed, front first bridge, closed, open, front 65. Problems occur for the Unbalanced-Pulled Lower singer when a song is set in a key that is too _____. ____ will allow you to import a track, transpose it, and then export it in a higher key.* high, Garage Band high, i-tunes low, The Amazing Slow Downer 66. Substituting the singer-friendly _____ like “nay” or “bwub” for words or phrases that are challenging will help the neuromuscular system become used to producing pitches correctly. Keep the lips forward; this lengthens the ___ and makes releasing easier. If the student’s upper register is weak or breathy, you can substitute [æ] to get more ____ in the mix.* vowels, vocal tract, energy syllables, vocal tract, power consonants, tube, edge 67. When learning a new song, singers should: print the sheet music and circle the notes in the _____, so they are aware when they need to “shift gears” to the upper register. Write in the _____ vowels or syllables. If their voice is Undeveloped or Light Lower (too breathy and weak) substitute vowels that are more _____. If the student is Unbalanced-Pulled Lower (straining and pulling) substitute more _____ vowels.* primo passaggio, better, closed open verse, hard, easy first bridge, substitute, open, closed 68. When people sing difficult riffs and runs out of tune, the problem is that their ____ is not advanced enough to hear the riff accurately, and their technique is not developed enough to sing the notes precisely. Take singers through the ____ exercises in Step Seven and the Basic Riffs and Runs, Pentatonic, and Blues exercises in Step Eight to build their ______, confidence, and ear training sequentially.* musicianship, power, self esteem ear training, flexibility, skills development, dynamics, power 69. When working on riffs and runs, ____ helps singers improve precision and good intonation. Break down difficult riffs by ____ and _____ the riff in sections. Remember-“practice doesn’t make perfect- it makes _____.”* isolating, slowing down and including, improvements bunching, speeding up and including, better chunking, slowing down and isolating, permanent 70. Remember that the objectives of good singing are: appropriately _____ vocal folds (clear, strong vocal s ound), a relaxed neutral larynx that doesn’t hike for higher pitches (______ muscles not engaged), freedom from _____ muscles (extrinsic muscles not engaged). _____ between the air pressure and the focusing strength of the vocal folds, a balance between the lower and upper registers, and balance of tone colors and resonance-chiaroscuro.* balanced, intrinsic, excluded, development adducted, extrinsic, interfering, balance developed, extrinsic, incorrect, placement 71. When working on songs, vocalize the song with any or all of the following options: _____, ______ larynx, eliminate ____ for legato,_____ It, Then Sing It.* SOVT, imposed, vowels, speak visualizing, relaxing, volume, shout chunking, high, staccato, think 72. The objectives of good singing are:appropriately ____vocal folds (clear, strong vocal sound), a relaxed neutral larynx that doesn’t hike for ______ pitches, freedom from interfering muscles (_____ muscles not engaged), b balance between the air pressure and the focusing strength of the ______, balance between the lower and upper______, and balance of tone colors and resonance- _______.* closed, lower, intrinsic, vocal chords, resonance, oscuro lengthened, extrinsic, extrinsic, glottis, resonance, chiaroscuro adducted, higher, extrinsic, vocal folds, registers, chiaroscuro 73. STRATEGIES FOR SINGING SONGS: _____ mouth position, vowel ___, key ___, syllable ____, maintain moderate ____, ___ the music.* neutral, modification, transposition, substitution, volume, mark relaxed, placement, lowering, improvement, dynamics, highlight forward, substitution, changes, modification, volume, circle 74. THE EIGHT- STEP PROCESS FOR FIXING ANY ISSUE IN A SONG: SOVT for good vocal fold vibration and balance of subglottal and supraglottal _____, imposed larynx: hooty imposed larynx sound for depth and ____, pharyngeal: bratty nay, or other ______ sound for edge, friendly _____, vocalize song on NG or MM for speech level, vocalize song on mum to ____ the vowel, eliminate consonants for ____, ______ then sing It, watch out for ______.* resonance, clarity, bratty, consonants, improve, dynamics, shout it, consonants air pressure, transitions, pharyngeal, compression, center, legato, speak it, diphthongs registers, oscuro, edgy, syllables, neutralize, connection, think, dynamics EmailThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Δ YOU can be a Successful Voice Teacher Table of Contents
