View source for Voice projection

{{Short description|Vocal technique of speaking or singing powerfully and clearly}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2008}}
'''Voice projection''' is the strength of [[Speech|speaking]] or [[singing]] whereby the [[human voice]] is used powerfully and [[elocution|clearly]]. It is a technique employed to command respect and attention, such as when a [[teacher]] talks to a class, or simply to be heard clearly, as used by an [[actor]] in a [[theatre]] or during [[Drill commands|drill]].

[[Breath]] technique is essential for proper voice projection. Whereas in normal [[Manner of articulation|talking]] one may use air from the top of the [[lung]]s, a properly projected voice uses air properly flowing from the expansion of the [[Thoracic diaphragm|diaphragm]]. In good [[vocal technique]], well-balanced respiration is especially important to maintaining vocal projection. The goal is to isolate and relax the muscles controlling the [[vocal folds]], so that they are unimpaired by [[Muscle tone|tension]]. The external [[intercostal muscle]]s are used only to enlarge the chest cavity, whilst the counterplay between the diaphragm and [[abdominal muscles]] is trained to control airflow.

Stance is also important. Actors are taught to stand erect with the feet shoulder width apart and the upstage foot (foot farther from the audience, when not facing the audience) slightly forward. This improves balance and breathing.

In [[singing]], voice projection is often equated with [[acoustic resonance]], the concentrated pressure through which one produces a focused sound. True resonance will produce the greatest amount of projection available to a voice by utilizing all the key resonators found in the vocal cavity. As the sound being produced and these resonators find the same [[overtone]]s, the sound will begin to ''spin'' as it reaches the ideal singer's [[formant]] at about 2800&nbsp;Hz. The size, shape, and hardness of the resonators all factor into the production of these overtones and ultimately determine the projective capacities of the voice.<ref>Titze, Ingo R. (January 2008). "The Human Instrument". ''[[Scientific American]]'' 298 (1):94–101. {{PMID|18225701}} {{doi| 10.1038/scientificamerican0108-94}}</ref><ref>Titze, Ingo R. (1994). ''Principles of Voice Production'', Englewoods Cliffs, New Jersey, Prentice Hall, {{ISBN|978-0-13-717893-3}}. Republished 2000 by [[National Center for Voice and Speech]].</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Human microphone]], where speech is "amplified" by the audience, repeating the speaker

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Public speaking]]
[[Category:Vocal skills]]
[[Category:Singing]]
[[Category:Music education]]

{{comm-stub}}

[[it:Tecnica del canto#La voce impostata]]