Enhancing the Phonatory System through “Sensory Bombardment” of Receptors.

Every voice professional seeks to maximize their vocal function. The idea of relaxation is misleading, as activation and tension are required throughout the vocal system to produce the desired sound. The challenge lies in finding a balanced system that enhances better control of the voice. Hence, the aim of this workshop is to enlighten participants as to awakening the receptors within the vocal system to optimize vocal function.

To produce voice, we need to activate specific phonatory muscle groups with the right properties required for that action, in that moment and space, and to coordinate them with other muscle groups. Doing this consciously is intricate; therefore, the most effective approach involves enhancing the sensory feedback from the receptors, leading to a more engaged neural imprint. This imprint provides richer data on the muscle’s status and activity during the entire phonation process.

The PROEL (Proprioceptive Elastic) method introduces a “Sensory bombardment” to stimulate the receptors in the mucous membranes, skin, and muscles of the phonatory system. To achieve this interconnection, it is crucial to communicate with the receptors in their own language: pressure, vibration, stretching (mechanoreceptors), warmth, cold (thermoreceptors), discomfort (nociceptors), and muscle tension and stretching (muscle receptors).

This workshop offers hands-on guidance to stimulate these receptors using simple tools. Participants will sing using objects in their mouths, adopting unusual body and vocal postures, and experiencing vibrations of different frequencies. The aim is to let attendees perceive the voice changes resulting from intensifying muscle feedback. The objective is to promote a positive, different, and unexpected impact on the brain, amplifying the efficiency of the sensorimotor learning process for both singing and speaking.