Singing is a unique form of music that combines musical tones with words to communicate. While everyone can sing, it takes natural talent and years of practice to sing well, as singers must use their vocal chords to accurately produce notes, unlike instrumentalists. Men and women's voices differ in thickness and range, and singing styles vary across cultures and genres of music.

1. Elements: Voices
Music Appreciation
Unit 2

2. Voices
• Singing has always been the easiest and most
familiar way to make music.
• Singing is unique in music because of the
ability to mix words with musical tones.
• When you sing it establishes a connection
between the singer and the listener.
• Communication is established using both
words and music.

3. Voices
• Although everyone can sing, few can do it
well.
• Singing is a difficult art that requires a lot of
natural talent and years of practice.
• All an instrumentalist has to do is push down a
valve or key to play a note where a singer
must be able to hear a note and adjust their
vocal chords in order to produce that note
accurately.

4. Voices
• Men’s vocal chords are thicker than women’s
are, resulting in a lower sounding voice.
• The voices of men and woman are classified
as follows…

5. Ranges of the voice
• Woman (listed from highest to lowest)
– Soprano
– Mezzo – Soprano
– Alto
• Men (listed from highest to lowest)
– Tenor
– Baritone
– Bass

6. Voices
• Methods and styles of singing vary from
culture to culture.
• The way the Japanese and Americans sing are
very different
• Classical, jazz, folk, rap, and rock are all sung
differently
• Play listening examples

7. Voices
• Until the late 1600s, most of the music was
vocal music.
• Instruments were rare to come because they
had to be made by hand and cost money.
• Since the late 1600s, instrumental and vocal
music have become equally important.