Day 31: Mix Voice – Building Balance
Mix voice isn’t a separate register—it’s the result of the thyroarytenoid (TA) and cricothyroid (CT) muscles working together. TA brings the depth and weight of chest voice, while CT stretches and thins the folds for head voice. A healthy mix voice depends on balance between the two.
Most singers struggle not because mix is mysterious, but because their CT muscles aren’t strong enough to stay active when moving through range. That’s why singers “flip” or strain—the folds don’t lengthen and thin smoothly.
The good news? We’ve been addressing CT strength since Week 1 with the sustained phonation exercise from the Vocal Function Exercises (VFEs). Today, we bring that work full circle.
How to Approach Mix
Here are two ways to train coordination directly:
- Start high and sing a descending octave scale: Begin in head voice and move downward through a full octave. This helps keep the folds lengthened and thinned as TA blends in, giving you a smoother transition.
- Start low and sing an ascending octave scale: Notice if the transition feels harder going up. If so, it’s often because the folds aren’t lengthening enough—the CTs are giving out and TA dominance takes over too soon.
These octave patterns let you feel how mix coordination develops depending on the direction of movement.
Exercise: Sustained Pentascale (VFE)
Repeat the sustained exercise from Week 1, but now connect it directly to mix voice development.
Instructions:
- Maximally inhale.
- Form a tight “oh” /o/ with lips protruding slightly. You should feel a sympathetic buzz on the lips.
- Sustain each pitch for as long as possible.
- Do each of the five notes twice.
Starting Pitches:
- Soprano: C4 (Middle C), D4, E4, F4, G4
- Mezzo/Alto: B3, C4, D4, E4, F4
- Tenor: E3, F#3, G#3, A3, B3
- Baritone/Bass: C3, D3, E3, F3, G3
Tracking: You’ve been logging duration for five weeks. Continue that habit today and then glance back at your earliest times to see how far you’ve come. Longer, steadier notes signal stronger CT engagement and more reliable mix.
Reflection
- How has your ability to sustain changed since Week 1?
- Do you notice smoother transitions when descending versus ascending octave scales?
The progress you feel here is the direct result of steady, consistent work—mix doesn’t appear suddenly, it’s built gradually by balancing muscle systems.
Looking Ahead: The mix you’re starting to feel now isn’t an accident—it’s the result of steady, consistent work over the past month. Tomorrow we’ll take that idea further and dive into how to bring the same consistency into your own practice: how to structure your time so progress continues to compound.
