Vocal Cords vs Vowels?

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? A quandary that no-one seems to figure out. However, for us as singers, thankfully the question of which is first, vocal cords or vowels, is one that we can answer!

The vocal cords are our first concern on a few levels:

• The vocal cords with closer and stretcher muscles must work right so we can sing on pitch, and
• The vowels themselves have initial formation at the level of the cords.

So, what is going on with the cords is the focus. The registration – balance among muscles in the larynx responsible for chordal adjustment – is primary, with all other adjustments made as automatic responses flowing from the registrational adjustments. If the registration is disturbed, then all else becomes disturbed, like a ripple effect. If the registration is improved, then all else becomes improved.

Of course, during training, there is use of vowel, repetition of a consonant, or focus on tongue position to help re-education and healing of muscles. But, this is in service to free the registrational muscles so they can do their jobs, allowing all else to work better.