Closing the Gap: Creaky Voice Exercises to Improve Adduction

Introduction:
In this workshop, I will provide background and training on variations of creaky voice techniques that can be used in simple vocal exercises to improve adduction and laryngeal stability and coordination for speech and singing.

Support for Workshop:
Demonstration singers/speakers who would benefit from the techniques to improve adduction due to glottic incompetence and muscle tension dysphonia related complaints. In the absence of demonstration singers/speakers, audience members could be participants.

Background:
Vocal fry is considered the lowest vocal register. It has been recognized to have a low fundamental frequency (Hollien and Michel, 600-604) and pulse-like oscillations. Creaky voice is similar and shares some characteristics. Proctor et al. (2022), refer to creaky voice as involving the low frequency modulation of a higher frequency. Both are produced with lower airflow and optimize adduction with reduced tension/compression. Pedagogical opinions and use of vocal fry and creaky voice in rehabilitative and habilitative settings varies widely among voice professionals. This may be due to certain factors: listener attitude, training, experience and personal use in teaching/practice, and vocal health concerns (Nix and Chappell).

Anecdotal Evidence: Within 18 years of a specialized professional voice practice, clinical experience and observation have consistently shown creaky voice techniques to have high clinical value in the reduction of glottic gap/incompetence. I have used a variety of creaky voice sounds with clients by combining low, medium and higher range frequencies with simple musical scale patterns to facilitate the changes. This pedagogical approach has resulted in not only improvements in the way the voice sounds and functions, but in how clients perceive their voices with better tone quality, vocal onset, intonation and increased vocal range, as well as a reduction in muscle tightness/soreness, pain, and vocal fatigue.

In this workshop, I will guide participants through short, simple, effective ways to access and produce creaky voice followed by a series of targeted exercises that may involve creaky glides, onsets/staccato, speech, humming, and vowels. We will explore a variety of techniques and how to implement them for personal practice and teaching to promote carryover into optimal speech and singing function.