Mouth shape research

[DonShirer]

Here is a link to an article on research into mouth shape for saxaphonists using a clever microphone technique. The conclusion was that for extremely high notes, professionals tuned their vocal cavity to the notes. The researchers say they might extend their studies to tubas.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/12/scien ... ef=science

[lgb&dtuba]

Fascinating. After reading the article I'm wondering if a musician's vocal singing range would affect his playing range. For example, would a tenor be able to play higher than baritone? Would someone with a very deep voice that couldn't sing high notes also not be able to play very high notes?

I realize no research has <probably> been done one this. It might be interesting to poll the TNFJ on our vocal ranges and ease of hitting high notes.

I have a pretty deep voice and cannot sing high. Above Bb concert on any brass instrument I play it's tough for me to reliably get above Ab and sound good.

[windshieldbug]

But in the very high notes, called the altissimo range, the professional players tuned their vocal tract — adjusting their tongue, jaw, pharynx, larynx and glottis, the middle part of the larynx where the vocal chords reside — to the note they played.

The use of the word "adjusted" implies to me that this was NOT the normal state for these physical parts; rather, that they [the players] had learned over time what to do subconciously.

I, also, wondered why they only studied winds, and not brass. If this could be quantified, then almost anyone could obtain a (yawn) world-class sound!

[justinbarleben]

I have a pretty deep voice and cannot sing high. Above Bb concert on any brass instrument I play it's tough for me to reliably get above Ab and sound good.

I'm a bass 2 in my high school chorus. My range is CC (two ledgers under the bass staff) to F# (two ledgers and a space above the bass staff) Ironically enough, this is pretty much my usable range on a BBb tuba. I never really had the need or desire to extend my high range, and am now seriously regretting it as I try to play catch-up before NYSSMA auditions. I actually have a really nice low/pedal register, but I was just making a point. Low voice, low notes here.