Resonance and the Estill Voice Model by Michaela Raub (she/her)

10 of 13 Figures for Vocal Production are resonators:

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False vocal folds (FVF) [2]
Thyroid cartilage [4]
Cricoid cartilage [5]
Aryepiglottic Sphincter (AES) [6]
Larynx [7]
Tongue [8]
Velum [9]
Jaw [10]
Lips [11]
Head and Neck Anchor [12]

*Head and Neck anchor adds pharyngeal width (Estill, McDonald Klimek, Obert, & Steinhauer, 2019).

How do the Estill Voice Qualities relate to resonance?

michaelaraub — 2024-09-18 14:32:49 UTC

Each quality utilizes the resonators in a unique way. The Estill Model teaches individuals to modify their anatomy, called Figures. The modification of these Figures are called Figure Options.

For example, the Figure Options for the larynx are low, mid, and high. Changing from the low to high larynx position will alter the sound of ones voice, as they are shifting a resonator.

Hand models for Figure Option help trainers, clinicians, and clients to build a motor plan for each Option, which decreases the cognitive load for execution.

The Birthday Scene

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Developed by Dr. Cari Tellis, the "Birthday Scene" provides schema to each Estill Vocal Quality.

The scene follows a group of children at a birthday party. Each child, who represent the Qualities, has an associated phrase.

Clinicians can teach this scene to clients to help them produce each Quality, which can later be generalized to conversation.

7 Estill Voice Qualities

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Speech 2. Falsetto 3. Sob 4. Cry 5. Twang 6. Belt 7. Opera

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Quality 1 - Speech

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Resonators are in Mid, feeling neutral and/or relaxed (Estill, McDonald Klimek, Obert, & Steinhauer, 2019). The only exception to this is the velum, which is in a high position.

Birthday Scene Schema- "Whatever. This party is so boring."

Animal Schema- Frog: "Ribbit"

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Quality 2 - Falsetto

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Resonators are relaxed and in Mid. The only exception to this is the velum, which is in High (Estill, McDonald Klimek, Obert, & Steinhauer, 2019).

Birthday Scene Schema- "Can I have a piece of cake?" Animal Schema- Owl: "Hoo"

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Quality 3 - Sob

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The resonators are maximally expanded to produce this Quality. The FVFs are retracted, thyroid is tilted, larynx is lowered, and the velum is in High (Estill, McDonald Klimek, Obert, & Steinhauer, 2019).

Birthday Scene Schema- "I'm so sorry"

Animal Schema- Dog: "Bow-wow"

Quality 4 - Cry

michaelaraub — 2024-09-18 19:08:47 UTC

This quality is a modification of Sob. The most notable change in the resonators when moving from Sob to Cry is a high laryngeal position.

The resonators FVFs remain retracted, thyroid is still tilted, and the velum is still raised, but the larynx is now in High (Estill, McDonald Klimek, Obert, & Steinhauer, 2019).

Birthday Scene Schema- "I really, really want a piece of cake."

Animal Schema- Cat: "Meow"

Hear Cry Quality

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Quality 5 - Twang

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There are two types of Twang: Oral and Nasal.

Both Oral and Nasal Twang include thyroid tilt, AES narrow, high larynx, and high tongue. The difference between them in is the velar position: Oral Twang has a high velum and Nasal Twang has a mid velum (Estill, McDonald Klimek, Obert, & Steinhauer, 2019).

Birthday Scene Schema- "You're so annoying"

Animal Schema- Goat: "Maaaa"

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Quality 6 - Belt

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The vocal tract is narrowed to produce Belt Quality. The FVFs are retracted, cricoid is tilted, AES is narrowed, head and neck are anchored, and the larynx, tongue, and velum are high (Estill, McDonald Klimek, Obert, & Steinhauer, 2019).

Birthday Scene Schema- "Stop it!"

Animal Schema- Rooster: "Cock-a-doodle-doo"

Quality 7 - Opera

michaelaraub — 2024-09-18 19:23:16 UTC

Resonators are expanded to produce Opera Quality. The FVFs are retracted, thyroid tilted, narrowed AES, larynx lowered, velum high, and tongue in a high to compressed position.

Additionally, head and neck anchor are included, which adds pharyngeal width and may add pharyngeal height (Estill, McDonald Klimek, Obert, & Steinhauer, 2019).

Birthday Scene Schema- "Here I come to save the day"

Animal Schema- Cow: "Mooo"

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Birthday Scene

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References

michaelaraub — 2024-09-23 00:49:29 UTC

Estill, J., McDonald Klimek, M., Obert, K., & Steinhauer, K. (2019). Estill Voice Training Level 2: Figure Combinations for Six Voice Qualities (2nd ed.). Estill Voice International.

Madie Morrow Comment

madiemorrow3 — 2024-10-23 00:00:04 UTC

I like how you included pictures and the estill model for all the different qualities as well as animals to go with each quality. It helps me to better differentiate between all of them when I have an animal associated with them.

Kateri's Comment

gricek3 — 2024-10-23 00:14:35 UTC

I LOVE that you added animal schemas! Owl is definitely falsetto! I tried making all these sounds and they all helped me to isolate and feel where my larynx and velum were.

Elizabeth Burney

burneye — 2024-10-23 17:45:12 UTC

Adding the animal schemas was so smart! It is hard for me to perceptually hear the difference between all the qualities sometimes, but the animal sounds helped so much! These are definitely schemas I'll use in the future with clients!

Kara T Comment

2024-10-25 23:27:18 UTC

The birthday scene is my personal favorite schema. It just applies so well. I love that you provided other potential schemas because different ideas will work for different clients!

Eygló

eygloharaldsdottir — 2024-10-26 21:24:22 UTC

Thank you for including the birthday scene, it's a very nice example. I also want to agree with many of the comments above, the animal schemas you came up with are very impressive!!

Ally Comment

longa3_4 — 2024-10-26 22:37:05 UTC

I really liked how you broke down Estill in terms of figure options, anatomy, and difference schemas we can use. I have always found the animal schema to be helpful. If I can't remember one of the qualities, I can usually remember the animal sound.

Sara L Comment

2024-10-27 00:20:22 UTC

All the visuals were awesome ways to visually demonstrate the qualities. Each quality was explained thouroughly and understandably. Nice work!

Courtney Eyman

thp6xrd5qz — 2024-10-27 17:47:53 UTC

okay, I absolutely adore the animal associations with each of the voice qualities! I will forever think of an opera-singing cow and a rock star rooster!

Alicia Baldwin Comment

baldwina10 — 2024-10-27 20:49:13 UTC

The visuals used to show the different figures used in the voice qualities in the Estill model helped visualize what is happening when making that voice quality. I am a visual learner and its always helpful to visually see what is happening. I also like the charts that show the "ingredients" needed to make the voice qualities. Using animals as a schema is so helpful in connecting the figures used to each voice quality and how they are perceived.

Amanda (comment)

asmccormick1 — 2024-10-28 00:32:24 UTC

First off, I love the way this whole padlet was broken up and organized! I also really enjoyed that you added the Estill models since that is relevant to our learning now! And hopping on the same train as everyone else, I loved the use of the animal schemas and I think they can work great with clients!

Amanda (comment)

asmccormick1 — 2024-10-28 00:34:35 UTC

First off, I love the way this whole padlet was broken up and organized! I also really enjoyed you adding the Estill models because it is relevant to what we are learning! I am also hopping on the train on loving the animal schemas, and I think they can be great to use with some clients as well!

Note from Michaela

michaelaraub — 2024-10-28 01:42:55 UTC

Hi everyone! Thank you for the kind comments! I want to clarify- I did NOT create these animal schemas. They are super helpful for some clients, but I believe they were created by Dr. Tellis. If not her, I imagine an Estill colleague of hers created them. I didn't realize that I didn't cite their source like I did for the Birthday Scene-I'm so sorry for any confusion!

Maryanne Anderson

mtanders22 — 2024-10-28 02:10:29 UTC

I really loved your diagrams but also how you showed the positions of the anatomy and physiology of the productions as well. It can be helpful for people to know the anatomical differences, not just the differences in perceived sound.

Maryanne Anderson

mtanders22 — 2024-10-28 02:13:04 UTC

I like the way you guys showed the diagrams of the production as well as the placement of the anatomy and physiology. This can definitely be helpful for people who can't just discern the productions by sound. Awesome examples with the animals too!