Now, I've heard of chest voice, middle voice and head voice (though I don't find them particularly helpful terms), but a girl currently studying performing arts at college told me this morning that they had been taught about nose voice - any ideas? Apparently, it is in between head voice and middle voice.
David
Full Version: Nose Voice
I would say that's rubbish (sorry, might sound a bit harsh 
). Of course you can use nose resonance, but the sound is not generated in your nose. It is probably more the feeling of the placement or "where the sound sits" and imagery that is used here, although I think that talking about the nose constantly while singing makes people sound nasal in the end.
Like the other three terms, this is surely not physiological but rather an image (although a very stupid one IMO - is that by any chance the same person who talked about "throat voice" at some point?
). There is nothing that "sits between middle and head" in vocal anatomy.
Fits perfectly into the other thread about anatomy and imagery - both can work, but certainly not if images are only used because the teacher obvoiusly doesn't have the slightest hint what happens physiologically (sadly that happens quite a lot, especially in contemporary singing). Unless that person can clearly describe what a "physiological nose voice" is, I would file this under "tales of the absurd"
). Of course you can use nose resonance, but the sound is not generated in your nose. It is probably more the feeling of the placement or "where the sound sits" and imagery that is used here, although I think that talking about the nose constantly while singing makes people sound nasal in the end. Like the other three terms, this is surely not physiological but rather an image (although a very stupid one IMO - is that by any chance the same person who talked about "throat voice" at some point?
). There is nothing that "sits between middle and head" in vocal anatomy. Fits perfectly into the other thread about anatomy and imagery - both can work, but certainly not if images are only used because the teacher obvoiusly doesn't have the slightest hint what happens physiologically (sadly that happens quite a lot, especially in contemporary singing). Unless that person can clearly describe what a "physiological nose voice" is, I would file this under "tales of the absurd"
QUOTE(Mezzo1974 @ Oct 16 2008, 12:57 PM) 
I would say that's rubbish (sorry, might sound a bit harsh
). Exactly my reaction!
QUOTE(Mezzo1974 @ Oct 16 2008, 12:57 PM)
...is that by any chance the same person who talked about "throat voice" at some point?
). Yes it is (your memory is good!), though different college and different teacher now!
nasal tone, but bot not nose voice... hang on maybe that's what they meant! 
I agree completely. Rubbish.
Just as there isn't really a head or chest voice, of course there's not a nose voice. Perhaps what the person was trying to talk about is the pharyngeal resonance that some singers use in their mixed voice (which, in my opinion doesn't exist either... it's all about how the cords and other production bits are configured and many different configurations have been called mix or head or chest in the past.)
Often, when using what people call mixed voice (basically thyroid tilt to hide the breaks) singers will add in what feels like a pharyngeal resonance, but actually comes from the epiglottis. This can make the voice feel as though it's reedy and nasal, but unless the soft palate is open, that won't be the case.
It sounds like someone who doesn't know a great deal about the voice was trying to describe 'mix' or thyroid tilt with epiglottic constriction - however, as the vocal folds don't undergo any change other than the slight thinning brought about by the thyroid tilt, I'm not sure we can call it a 'voice'. It's a configuration and if you removed the epiglottic bit, people might suddenly want to call it head voice or chest voice (depending on the depth of cord closure at the time).
It might not be as complex as that, mind you, perhaps this person just really thinks there is a nose voice...
Cor, people don't half make up some drivel eh?!
Just as there isn't really a head or chest voice, of course there's not a nose voice. Perhaps what the person was trying to talk about is the pharyngeal resonance that some singers use in their mixed voice (which, in my opinion doesn't exist either... it's all about how the cords and other production bits are configured and many different configurations have been called mix or head or chest in the past.)
Often, when using what people call mixed voice (basically thyroid tilt to hide the breaks) singers will add in what feels like a pharyngeal resonance, but actually comes from the epiglottis. This can make the voice feel as though it's reedy and nasal, but unless the soft palate is open, that won't be the case.
It sounds like someone who doesn't know a great deal about the voice was trying to describe 'mix' or thyroid tilt with epiglottic constriction - however, as the vocal folds don't undergo any change other than the slight thinning brought about by the thyroid tilt, I'm not sure we can call it a 'voice'. It's a configuration and if you removed the epiglottic bit, people might suddenly want to call it head voice or chest voice (depending on the depth of cord closure at the time).
It might not be as complex as that, mind you, perhaps this person just really thinks there is a nose voice...
Cor, people don't half make up some drivel eh?!
QUOTE(rosfrog @ Oct 19 2008, 12:20 PM)
I agree completely. Rubbish.
Just as there isn't really a head or chest voice, of course there's not a nose voice. Perhaps what the person was trying to talk about is the pharyngeal resonance that some singers use in their mixed voice (which, in my opinion doesn't exist either... it's all about how the cords and other production bits are configured and many different configurations have been called mix or head or chest in the past.)
Often, when using what people call mixed voice (basically thyroid tilt to hide the breaks) singers will add in what feels like a pharyngeal resonance, but actually comes from the epiglottis. This can make the voice feel as though it's reedy and nasal, but unless the soft palate is open, that won't be the case.
It sounds like someone who doesn't know a great deal about the voice was trying to describe 'mix' or thyroid tilt with epiglottic constriction - however, as the vocal folds don't undergo any change other than the slight thinning brought about by the thyroid tilt, I'm not sure we can call it a 'voice'. It's a configuration and if you removed the epiglottic bit, people might suddenly want to call it head voice or chest voice (depending on the depth of cord closure at the time).
It might not be as complex as that, mind you, perhaps this person just really thinks there is a nose voice...
Cor, people don't half make up some drivel eh?!
You didn't get my joke Allan, but you're so right about about the drivel!
Jo
Sorry Jod, I hadn't seen your post - I was replying directly to David.
You're right, though !
You're right, though !
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