Functioning of the larynx and articulatory organs of professional singers

Our x-ray studies with highly qualified opera singers have shown that the larynx position on prolonged tones in singing is the same for all vowels in a two-octave range. With light sopranos, the larynx position in singing is always higher than its rest position; with basses and baritones it is always 2–3 cm lower. A larynx shift from its rest position to the singing position is caused by the necessity of having the buccopharyngeal tract correspond to the type of voice in question. If, by nature, this tract is too short the singer lets the larynx go down. If, on the contrary, it is too long, the singer lets the larynx go up. Owing to these larynx shifts, a ratio between the length of the vocal folds for each voice type and the needed length of buccopharyngeal tract in singing is found; it is equal to 1 : 10. The adjustment of larynx which is characteristic and necessary for singing on a supported and trained tone is a contraction of its opening observed with opera singers for all vowels and in all voice ranges including the covered upper range. Owing to this contraction, there is formed a small cavity the function of which is like that of a premegaphone chamber in acoustic amplifier megaphones. A proper contraction of the larynx opening and an adequately found length of the buccopharyngeal tract create an impedance indispensable for a supported professional voice.