God’s Instrument: The Voice
As a private vocal instructor and choral director, I can attest that there is no other instrument as complicated and versatile as the one crafted by God Himself. Many would argue that all instruments are made by God through the hand of man, and there is truth in that, but He who has known us before we were born and fashioned us in His image is the Supreme Creator and His work always exceeds the creation of man. The human voice is uniquely crafted and will be heard even in heaven. Therefore, in my humble estimation, I believe that the voice is uniquely blessed by God. Lest you think I’m a bit biased on the matter, let me venture into the qualities of the voice, and how it is fashioned for the praise and glory of God.
What? You say you can’t sing? Nonsense. Every human has the potential to make a joyful and beautiful sound unto the Lord.
Words
Just how is this particular instrument unique? What makes it different from other instruments? It is the only instrument that has the ability to produce words. As humans, we have the use of tongue, lips, and teeth to form words to communicate the essence of our subject in fine detail. The use of words in music enables us to combine two artistic attributes: music and literature. Composers throughout the centuries have benefitted the great poets by collaborating with them to deepen the meaning of hymns. Take for example, Isaac Watts: When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of Glory died. In Charles Wesley’s Jesus, Lover of My Soul,the poetry cuts to our hearts in worship. The combination of words and music bring us closer to God, which is His plan!
Accessible to All People
The voice is built by its designer— God! All of the resources needed to be able to create a beautiful sound are present naturally in the body. What? You say you can’t sing? Nonsense. Every human has the potential to make a joyful and beautiful sound unto the Lord. Sure, there are singers who may not sound good naturally, but this is simply because they are not aware of how to use those resources correctly. In my twentysome years of teaching private voice lessons, I have never encountered an individual who could not learn how to use their God-given parts to produce a pleasant tone. Not one! Each individual has the ability to develop good habits, thus contributing to a good tone. Or, an individual can develop bad habits vocally which contribute to what some may call a “bad” tone. Those habits may include excessive pressure on the voice (i.e. frequent yelling), poor diet, poor sleep habits, smoking, stress, etc. The voice reacts directly to our environment. Tension in the body relates directly to tension in the voice. Because our voice is directly connected to the brain, our sound can be related to emotion and mood. Good stewardship is the key! Care of God’s most important instrument must be of primary importance in our quest for glorifying worship.
Understanding the Voice
In order to more fully understand how our individual voices work, it might be prudent to embark on a short biology lesson of sorts. Let’s start from the bottom up.
It all starts with the abdominal muscles. They lengthen and contract and are fully controlled by the brain. They are attached to an involuntary muscle called the diaphragm. That diaphragm muscle is the prime support system for the guidance of air into and out of our bodies. When the abdominal muscles are expanded, the diaphragm is stretched and makes a nice platform above which the lungs sit. The result is much like an accordion which extracts air from the room and pulls it into the bellows. Once the lungs are full, the abdominal muscles push back, stretching the diaphragm and guiding the air up and out through the trachea.
As the air travels through the trachea, it simply passes through the vocal chords. The vocal chords are also involuntary muscles, and don’t have a large role in the production of beautiful tone at all. Those vocal chords vibrate with a sound much like the sound of a blade of grass between your thumbs—not yet a gratifying sound! The epiglottis is a handy little tool that acts as a sort of train switch. It is designed to guide food through the esophagus, and then “switch” when it’s time for air to travel through the trachea. The soft palate is vital in producing a warm and pleasing sound. When raised, the soft palate helps the mouth to act as a resonator. Every instrument has a resonator—the bell of a trumpet, the kettle of a drum— but the voice actually has two: one in the mouth, and the other in the nasal cavity. It is in these resonating areas that the warmth and beauty of the voice is produced. Attached to the soft palate is the uvula, which you can see if you open your mouth wide and look inside. It’s that dangly thing in the back of your throat.
Our voices are also unique in that the parts that make up the instrument also perform other functions that are totally unrelated to singing. The tongue muscles aid in the swallowing process. The actual vocal chords open and close depending on whether we breathe or eat. The teeth, lips, and tongue are also utilized for drinking and eating. Our lower abdominal muscles, which are vital for a beautiful tone, also perform the functions necessary for daily breathing. It is a multi-functional masterpiece!
Variety of Voices
If God has made our instruments basically the same, how can we account for the different types of voices that one hears? It is quite apparent that Dad’s voice is very different than Mom’s voice. It is also quite apparent that the voice of an opera singer differs much from that of a bluegrass singer. Well, some of these aspects have to do with our instruments as unique creatures of God, and others have to do with specific stylistic training.
There are four basic categories for voice classifications: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. The smaller the vocal chord and sound-producing mechanism area, the higher the voice. Those with smaller sound mechanisms are sopranos (even if the rest of the body might look a lot larger). Most children and women fall into the category of soprano. Alto voices usually denote a somewhat larger vocal chord and sound mechanism. Tenor would be the higher of the adult male voices, and bass would be a lower, richer sound. The voice part you possess relies totally on the God-given mechanism with which you were born. A soprano could not decide one day to sing in the bass register—it just won’t happen! Proper voice placement is important for your particular voice type. If you are not singing in your God-given range, there is a possibility of harming your voice and possibly inflicting long-term damage. A good church choral director or voice instructor can easily determine in what category you fall.
There are definite stylistic differences when it comes to singing different kinds of music. Classical singing is approached differently than contemporary singing, and there are tricks of the trade if you are interested in pursuing a particular style of vocals. A good church choir director will have the ability to teach basic vocal technique if you are interested in furthering your vocal ambitions. They will also be able to point you to a qualified vocal instructor if you would like to study voice seriously.
Make a Joyful Noise
For most of us, singing for the glory of God in weekly worship is the extent of our devotion in song. Sing out! There is no better way than to devote your whole self—body, voice and soul—to the divine act of worship. It is why and how God made us. We are His marvelous instruments. As stewards of His handiwork, we are directed to venture forth in praise with a voice of singing!
Sources:
The New Voice by Alan Greene (Hal Leonard, 1975)