The thyroarytenoid muscle is a complex and versatile structure within the larynx that plays a key role in gender-affirming voice training. Its intricate actions directly influence vocal fold vibration, enabling individuals to modify their pitch, vocal quality, and resonance toward a voice that aligns with their gender identity.
Thyroarytenoid Function in Trans Voice Training: A Closer Look
The thyroarytenoid muscle is divided into two distinct parts, each with a unique contribution to vocal production:
Vocalis Muscle: This medial portion runs parallel to the vocal ligament, the vibrating edge of the vocal fold. Its contraction has a multifaceted effect on vocal fold vibration:
Tension Control: The vocalis has the ability to make subtle adjustments to longitudinal tension of the vocal fold. Greater tension produces thinner, stiffer folds that vibrate faster, creating a higher pitch. With less tension the folds are thicker and more lax, vibrating slower for a lower pitch.
Thickness Modulation: It is also able to change the thickness of the vocal folds along their length. This alters the mass of the vibrating part, further contributing to the control over pitch. Thicker folds vibrate slower, thinner ones-vibrate faster.
Edge Shape: The vocalis can subtly alter the shape of the vocal fold edge, influencing the way air flows over it during phonation. This affects the quality of voice, adding to either a bright or dark quality.
Muscularis Muscle: This lateral portion lies alongside the vocalis. Its contraction has a primarily relaxing effect:
Shortening the Vocal Folds: The muscularis acts to shorten the vocal folds, reducing their tension and contributing to a lower pitch.
Relaxing Vocal Fold Body: Its action relaxes the overall body of the vocal fold, leading to a thicker, less tense configuration that favors lower frequencies and a more relaxed vocal quality.
Direct Influence on Trans Vocal Outcomes
The actions of the thyroarytenoid muscle translate directly into specific vocal changes relevant to trans voice training:
1. Pitch:
Feminization: Through selective activation of the vocalis muscle, an individual can increase vocal fold tension and thin the vocal fold edges. This raises the fundamental frequency of vibration with an associated rise in perceived pitch.
Masculinization: Activation of the muscularis muscle has the opposite effect, loosening and shortening the vocal folds, which reduces tension and lowers the perceived pitch.
2. Vocal Quality:
Feminization: Increased activity of the vocalis creates a thinner, tense vocal fold edge. This allows for more efficient airflow and a clearer, brighter vocal quality often associated with a feminine voice.
Masculinization: Muscularis activation, coupled with reduced vocalis activity, leads to a thicker, more relaxed vocal fold configuration. This results in a more muffled, relaxed vocal quality often associated with a masculine voice.
3. Resonance:
Feminization: The thyroarytenoid muscle has an indirect effect on resonance, through the alteration of vocal fold configuration. Thinner, more tense folds, achieved through activation of the vocalis, favor higher frequencies, promoting a brighter resonance.
Masculinization: Thicker, more relaxed folds, achieved through activation of the muscularis, favor lower frequencies, promoting a darker resonance.
4. Inflection and Prosody:
Feminization: Precise control over the vocalis muscle allows for quick and subtle variation in tension of the vocal folds, which enables wider ranges of pitch and inflections typical of feminine speech.
Masculinization: A readjustment in the balance between activity of the vocalis and muscularis will provide a voice with a more monotonic or restricted pitch range, characteristic of masculine speech.
Training the Thyroarytenoid Muscle and Types of Targeted Vocal Exercises
Here are some examples of exercises common in trans voice training, including instructions and their effects on the thyroarytenoid muscle.
1. Pitch Glides:
Instructions:
Slowly glide your voice upward into a higher pitch range, maintaining a smooth, connected sound.
Slowly return to the starting pitch.
Repeat several times, expanding your range with each repetition.
Effect on Thyroarytenoid: Ascending glides engage the vocalis muscle, increasing vocal fold tension and thinning the vocal fold edges to produce higher pitches. Descending glides require controlled relaxation of the vocalis and may engage the muscularis to achieve lower pitches.
2. Scales:
Instructions:
Sing a familiar scale (e.g., "do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti-do") ascending and descending.
Focus on accuracy of pitch and smooth transitions between notes.
Effect on Thyroarytenoid: Similar to glides, scales require precise coordination of the vocalis and muscularis muscles to achieve accurate pitch changes and maintain consistent vocal quality throughout the exercise.
3. Sirens:
Instructions:
Produce a continuous "woo" sound, starting at a comfortable pitch.
Gradually slide your pitch upwards, imitating the sound of a siren.
Slide back down to your starting pitch.
Repeat, varying the speed and range of the siren.
Effect on Thyroarytenoid: Sirens encourage smooth transitions between pitches, requiring continuous adjustments in vocal fold tension and thickness. This exercise helps develop flexibility and control over the thyroarytenoid muscle.
4. Humming:
Instructions:
Gently hum a comfortable pitch with your lips closed.
Focus on feeling the vibrations in your lips, teeth, and nasal cavities.
Vary the pitch and volume of your hum.
Effect on Thyroarytenoid: Humming encourages relaxation of the vocal folds while maintaining gentle tension. This can be particularly helpful for individuals seeking to lower their pitch or achieve a more relaxed vocal quality.
5. Straw Phonation:
Instructions:
Hum or vocalize through a straw.
This creates semi-occluded vocal tract, reducing air pressure and encouraging vocal fold adduction.
Vary the pitch and loudness while phonating through the straw.
Effect on Thyroarytenoid: Straw phonation balances the activity between the vocalis and muscularis muscles, which creates an efficient, easy vibration of the vocal folds with minimal strain.
Important Considerations:
Individualized Approach: Exercises to be used and the level of difficulty should be selected based on the individual's needs and goals, considering their current vocal status and desired vocal outcome.
Proper Technique: Correct posture, breath support, and vocal technique are crucial to fully realize these exercises and prevent vocal strain in the process.
Consistent Practice: It is very important to practice regularly and consistently to develop vocal control for long-lasting changes.
By understanding the complex structure of the thyroarytenoid muscle and its targeted training, transgender individuals can make prominent changes in their voice, which would align with their gender identity and improve their communication and self-expression.
As always, if you're interested in getting started with voice training, click on the link below to schedule your first session with me today!
Till next time,
Kylie
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