The following activity aims to help you understand what happens in your voice-box (larynx) when you go up and down in pitch. Tune in to what are you are feeling in your throat, as well as what you are hearing. This exercise can also help you to check-in with your resonance – think about where you are feeling vibrations. It may be helpful to gently rest your hand on the front of your voice box while doing this exercise.
Activity to explore your pitch:
1. Take a long, slow breath in through your nose.
2. Then, do a gentle hum at your natural speaking pitch and hold this for a few seconds.
- Focus on creating a nice, smooth sound.
3. Now, try gliding up to a higher pitch from your natural speaking pitch.
- It is not about getting as high as you can! You should focus on achieving a smooth transition to a comfortable higher pitch.
4. Repeat this a few times.
5. Now try going the opposite way – do a gentle hum at your natural speaking pitch, then glide down to a lower pitch.
- Focus on achieving a smooth transition from your speaking pitch to a lower pitch.
6. Repeat this a few times.
How did this feel?
Were you able to produce a smooth sound as you went up and down in pitch? Did you notice any increase in tension or strain in your throat as you went up or down in pitch? Did you find a pitch which felt more comfortable for you?
How does pitch relate to intonation?
We are constantly going up and down in pitch when we speak. This is referred to as intonation, and intonation helps us to tell our listener more than words alone.
Think about it: Imagine you have received very good news and are telling your friend about this – your pitch will get higher because you are excited and happy. The listener is able to recognise the joy from your voice. Alternatively, if you have received bad news, you may speak in a lower pitch with less change in your pitch.
