What is Vocalization?

Vocalization is the sound made by the vibration of vocal folds modified by the resonance of the vocal tract. In common terms of vocal sound production, vocalization is considered as speaking. In music, vocalization is equivalent to singing.

Generally, the basic process of vocal sound production is the same in both speaking and singing.

In vocal music, vocalization is the art of producing various voice inflections based on the vibration speed of the vocal folds. This process starts when the brain sends signals through the nervous system to the muscles of the head, neck and torso thereby producing inhalation prior to vocalization.

Why is Vocalization important?

Vocalization plays a very important role in your quest to improve your vocal range. So how does it work?

Simple. You need to do some vocalization exercises regularly.

There are many vocalization exercises that you can adapt and practice. The most common is what I call Progressive Vocalization exercise. This is done using a unique melodic pattern of notes starting from the middle letter key of "C" or the note "Do."

To understand and perform this exercise, follow these 7 simple instructions:

1. Go to your piano or keyboard and starting at middle C(do), under a 3/4 Time Signature, play the notes do-mi-sol-do-sol-mi-do. If you want to use the letter keys, follow this pattern: C(do)-E(mi)-G(sol)-C(do)-G(sol)-E(mi)-C(do). Note: If you don't know how to use the piano or keyboard, ask someone to play it for you.

2. Familiarize yourself with the melody. You may want to play this pattern a few times for ear training purposes.

3. Once you already know the melody-pattern, start singing the melody using the notes. Caution: You may find that singing the melody using the letter keys is a bit difficult and quite awkward to hear. So I would like to suggest that you replace each note or letter with actual words, just like the lyrics of a song.

4. Use these words: "Where are you going today?" with a tonal distribution as follows: Where(C) are(E) you(G) go-(C) -ing(G) to-(E) -day(C).

5. Once you have memorized the melody-pattern, play and sing it again adapting the same note progression and time signature, but this time start at C#(Do#) which is one half tone higher than C(Do). So the pattern that you play and sing should look like this: Where(C#) are(F) you(G#) go-(C#) -ing(G#) to-(F) -day(C#). Remember to take a deep breath every time you repeat the pattern.

6. Then continue playing and singing the same melody pattern by moving up one half tone higher every time you repeat the pattern until your voice can no longer reach the highest note.

7. To complete one set of this exercise, you need to play and sing exactly the same melody pattern but this time, move one half tone lower every time you repeat the pattern until your voice can no longer reach the lowest note.

Do this Vocalization exercise regularly (every day) within a 10-minute time frame with a 1-minute rest in between complete sets. Based on my experience, the most effective time for this exercise is before actual singing. I found out that every time I perform this vocalization exercise before actual singing, my Voice Box is already warmed up, open, and ready for work.

Very important reminder: Remember to drink water as required.