How to Sing: The Throat Muscles

Muscles that attach the larynx to something outside of itself are called extrinsic muscles. The extrinsic muscles are responsible for raising and lowering the larynx. The larynx elevates several centimeters when we swallow; it lowers several centimeters when we yawn or take a relaxed and deep breath.

In swallowing, a group of sphincter muscles (sphincter muscles are muscles that surround and constrict an opening) force the larynx upward and seal the air passage. Activating these swallowing/sphincter muscles is antithetical to good singing.

Try swallowing and singing at the same time- it can’t be done!

Many self-taught or poorly taught singers activate these muscles during vocalization. The extrinsic muscles are also known as interfering muscles because they interfere with the process of free vocalization.

The extrinsic strap muscles are attached outside the larynx, holding the larynx in place, stabilizing it, and moving it up or down. These muscles, if consistently tensed while singing, will interfere with good vocal production.

There are two types of extrinsic strap muscles: those that raise the larynx and those that depress it. The elevator strap (suprahyoid) muscles raise the larynx and the depressor strap (infrahyoid) muscles lower it. The elevator and depressor muscles act cooperatively in creating optimal laryngeal positioning.

We utilize these muscles in vocal training to perform temporary exercises with a specific purpose, such as the witchy, bratty, Voce di Strega sounds that raise the larynx and the dumb, hooty, imposed larynx sounds that lower the larynx. We would not use either of these extreme laryngeal positions in a song, but they can be good temporary tools for training voices.

Elevator Muscles

The muscles above the hyoid bone that suspend the larynx from above are called the suprahyoid muscles. When we swallow, the elevator muscles raise the larynx. The extrinsic elevator muscles must be free from tension for good singing. The four suprahyoid (above the hyoid bone) muscles are:

• The digastric muscle connects the jaw and mastoid process and hyoid bone.
• The stylohyoid muscle connects the styloid process and the hyoid bone.
• The mylohyoid muscle connects the chin and the hyoid bone.
• The geniohyoid muscle connects the jaw with the hyoid bone.

The mylohyoid and digastric strap muscles under the chin are elevator muscles involved in swallowing and can interfere with free vocal production. Check under the chin for tension in these muscles by pushing the thumb upward just behind the chin bone while singing.

If this area is tense or the vocal sound has a Kermit the Frog canurdle quality, the mylohyoid muscle is probably tensed. The area under the chin should be loose and flexible at all times.

Activating the swallowing muscles while singing impedes the free functioning of the voice. In vocal training, one of the objectives is to avoid using interfering extrinsic swallowing muscles, while strengthening and coordinating the correct intrinsic muscles.

Depressor Muscles

The muscles that anchor the larynx to the torso are called the depressor or infrahyoid muscles because they originate below the hyoid bone. The depressor muscles draw the larynx down.

There are four infrahyoid (below the hyoid bone) muscles:

• The omohyoid muscle connects the hyoid bone with the shoulder blades.
• The thyrohyoid muscle connects the thyroid cartilage with the hyoid bone.
• The sternohyoid muscle connects the hyoid and the sternum.
• The sternothyroid muscle connects the thyroid cartilage with the sternum.

Extrinsic muscle tension is a factor in many voice disorders. When there is tension in the neck, other muscles also tend to contract, preventing the intrinsic laryngeal muscles from functioning freely.

Massaging the neck muscles with a small vibrator has been shown to have good results in counteracting tension for singers.

Good posture, with the head relaxed and aligned, is a prerequisite for reducing extrinsic muscle activity.

Often, a self-taught or poorly trained singer will have years of bad vocal habits to correct; these habits almost always include using the extrinsic swallowing muscles to sing. Muscle memory can be re-trained with persistence and consistent repetition of new patterns.

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