TEACHING THE IMPOSED LARYNX

Weekly Teaching Tip – Nov. 6, 2017
by Tricia Grey

F1, the first formant, is responsible for darkness and depth of tone. The imposed larynx or “dopey”sounds are created when the lowered larynx extends the “tube” of the pharyngeal resonator, increasing the resonating space and lowering F1, the first formant. This is because a larger space will resonate lower frequencies.

The [o] vowel and the UH vowel sung with an imposed larynx can counteract unintended laryngeal hiking by activating the extrinsic depressor muscles.