![\"Boys](\"https:\/\/estillvoice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/BV-boy-600x338.jpg\")
As a singing teacher, I mainly work in the Musical Theatre genre with children and adolescents. Everybody is happy and navigating their learning curves, until that one moment every boy encounters: the first voice crack. Panic in their heads, panic in the group. Where is my stable voice? Where is my stable self? Where is the stable boy? What\u2019s happening to me, and what will my voice become?<\/p>\n
That\u2019s where we voice teachers can come in and help. Knowledge of what\u2019s happening and what to do during this process can be great anchors to assist the pupil in panic.<\/p>\n
In this blog I give my vision and recommendations for guiding young men through their voice changes, based on literature, my teaching experiences and interviews with three adolescent singers: Levi K (16 years old), Levi V (16yrs) and Ole (14yrs). Let this be the start of an open discussion.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s Happening?<\/h4>\n
Here are just a few things that happen to singers during puberty:<\/p>\n
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- Facial muscles grow, but not in proportion and not together. Some grow faster, some grow slower. This process has its effects on connections to the vocal tract, and therefore on the student\u2019s internal perception of voice resonance.<\/li>\n
- Larynx grows (faster than the rest of the body).<\/li>\n
- Children\u2019s tongues are relatively larger than adult tongues. In puberty these proportions also change.<\/li>\n
- At birth, boys\u2019 and girls\u2019 vocal folds are similar lengths, measuring about 2 millimeters long. True Vocal Folds get bigger (female: 0.4 mm per year – eventual size: 10 mm, male: 0.7 per year- eventual size: 16 mm (Poncelet, 2019<\/em><\/a>). This is only an indication; I\u2019ve also heard even larger rates of growth at different voice lectures. The largest rate of growth happens during the earliest years and during puberty. The larger the vocal folds, the deeper the sound.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In summary: Proportions Change!<\/p>\n
Some consequences of these changes may include voice breaks, reduction of pitch, dysphonia in the speaking voice, breathy voice, or decreased range. In young men, the changes are more pronounced than in women. Bigger changes may even result in bigger panic! Some young singers even feel their vocal identity is gone.<\/p>\n
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The key of a healthy voice is a mobile voice, and for that we have the Estill Siren<\/em>. It contains almost all above discussed Figures and so it is a good test and trainer for all singers, especially adolescents.<\/p>\n![\"Bram](\"https:\/\/estillvoice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/BV-profile-74x132.jpg\")
Formerly trained as a Clarinetist and Conductor, Bram only started his professional singing study at the age of 34, at the Tilburg Conservatory in the Netherlands. He found his passion for singing through choral conducting and musical theatre. Today he is a Singing Teacher and Musical Director working towards his EMT certification.<\/p>\n