Figures for Voice™

The concept of Figures for Voice™ originates from figure skating where the original focus of the sport was the carving of specific figures into the ice. The patterns of ‘compulsory figures’ all derive from the basic figure eight and the skaters must demonstrate that they can competently perform a row of exercises before the proper competition begins, thereby the judges can see if the skaters master the basic moves that later will be make the foundation of the real program where they also will be judges on their artistic performance. Jo Estill’s philosophy when she created Figures for Voice™ (formally Compulsory Figures for Voice) was that, like the skater, the voice user should be able to do some compulsory basic exercises with their voice before attempting more complex vocal tasks.

Today Figures for Voice™ control 13 structures that contribute to voice production:

• True Vocal Fold Onset/Offset (control of air & tone)
• True Vocal Fold Body & Cover (intensity & tone)
• False Vocal Folds (avoiding constriction)
• Thyroid Cartilage (tone)
• Cricoid Cartilage (belting)
• Aryepiglottic Spincter (projection)
• Velum (resonance)
• Larynx (treble/bass resonance)
• Tongue (equalize the resonance of the vowels)
• Jaw (treble/bass resonance)
• Lips (treble/bass resonance)
• Head and Neck (support/stability)
• Torso (support/stability)