A Cappella
Singing without any form of instrumental accompaniment.
Accent
Giving a particular note or phrase more stress than the ones before or after it.
Accompaniment
The instrumentation that plays beneath the singing.
Accompanist
A pianist (or other instrumentalist) who plays music beneath the singing.
Alto
Low female voice
Baritone
Male voice located between bass and tenor in range and tone quality.
Bass
Low male voice
Belting
Originally a term usually applied to female voices only. A loud, driving sound that is produced by pushing the natural chest register beyond its normal limits.
Blend
In solo singing, the smooth transition between the head and chest voice. Or, when more than one individual is singing, the sound combination between singers, which preferably makes it difficult to pick out one singer's voice amid the group
Break
The sudden change in tone between the head and chest voice, caused by vocal tension. When a singer hits his or her break, there may be a "popping" sound, or some other sound that is jarring and ugly. This can be avoided with good vocal technique.
Breath Support
Efficient use of the singer's stream of breath, controlled primarily by the diaphragm.
Catch Breath
A quick, short, unobtrusive breath.
Chest Voice
Or "chest register". The lower notes of a singer's range which are in the same general range as the speaking voice. When singing in the chest voice, the vocal cords become naturally thick, and the resulting sound is generally associated with deep, warm to
Diaphragm
The dome shaped muscle attached to the bottom of the lungs that separates your chest and stomach cavities. Its main function is to initiate inhalation
Diction
The clear pronunication of words. This requires attention to both consonants and vowels.
Dynamics
The variations of soft and loud singing in a given song.
Falsetto
In male singers, a high register (actually, sung in the female range) similar to the head voice. However, unlike the head voice, falsetto cannot blend with the chest voice.
Flat
To be under the correct pitch, not quite in tune.
Forced
Singing that is forced may sound strained, and is accompanied by unneccessary tension in the throat.
Full Voice
As loud as a person can sing without creating imbalance between airflow and vocal cord tension. Also refers to a tone that has a balanced resonance quality.
Hard Palate
The hard area of the roof of your mouth, just behind your teeth.
Head Voice
Or "head register". Singing in the higher part of the range. While singing in the head voice, the vocal folds are thin; usually associated with light, bright sounds.
Intonation
Refers to pitch. Bad intonation indicates singing either flat or sharp or not in tune with one another
Legato
Singing as though all the notes were tied together. the notes flow together smoothly.
Mask
The area around and including the eyes which is often used to creat head resonance.
Nasal
When the voice is focused purely around the nose and nasal area.
Mezzo-Soprano
Female voice located between soprano and alto in range and tone quality.
Phrasing
Refers to the breaths or "stops" in between notes. Natural phrasing will include "stops" after all periods, commas, semicolons, or colons. Additional phrasing may be necessary for the singer to take catch breaths or to achieve a certain style.
Pitch
The sound of a particular note. When pitch is referred to, it's usually in reference to being "on" or "off" pitch. "On pitch" means the singer is singing in tune. "Off pitch" means the singer is either flat or sharp.
Placement
A singing technique that uses the sensation of vibrations in the head to achieve healthy sound that resonates and carries well. Most healthy singing is done in what is often referred to as "forward placement" (or "the mask"), with vibrations behind the te
Projection
Generally, the ability to be heard by the audience. Sometimes also refers to the ability to communicate emotion to the audience, as in "she projects great sadness.
Pure Note
A clear, sustained note with a controlled breath and without vibrato. To create a true pure note, everything needs to be in balance. Placement of the note and vowel, diaphragmatic control and vocal cords energized yet relaxed.
Quality
The inherent or distinguishing characteristics of a voice that demonstrate a singer's natural, unique sound.
Range
Refers to the notes that a given performer can sing comfortably high and low.
Repertoire
The songs a singer knows well, has studied, and can perform.
Resonance
Occurs naturally when the voice is free to travel through the spaces above your vocal cords (your resonators) where it is modified and amplified before leaving your mouth.
Scale
A series of notes differing in pitch according to a specific scheme usually within an octave.
Sharp
To be above the note and not in tune. Sharp singing is often the result of oversinging.
Scoop
Beginning a note beneath it's pitch, then sliding up to the correct pitch.
Sight Singing
The ability to look at sheet music and read sing it.
Soft Palate
The fleshy part at the back of the mouth which is raised to create good space for air to vibrate and support vocal tone.
Soprano
High female voice
Staccato
The opposite of legato. Each note is separate from the one before and after it.
Tenor
High male voice
Tone
The quality of sound of a note.
Vibrato
The steady pulsation of the voice that is hear of a sustained note. The pulsation is caused by a slight fluctuation in pitch above and below the tonal center of the note. The best singers have full control over their vibrato through a consistent breath an
Vocal Cords
Muscles found inside the larynx (or voice box). The vibration of the two vocal cords, caused by expelling air from the lungs, produces vocal tones or singing. Also called "vocal folds".
Warm Up
Anything that helps the singer prepare for a rehearsal or performance. Typically, a warm up consists of vocal exercises, such as running scales. It may also include warming up the body with stretches to relieve tension and help wake the sense, with specia