emotional triggers

I've been curious about the use  of emotive sound responses to trigger a desired vocal anatomical posture. These emotional triggers are collected from several teachers and methods that I'm sure many of us use and have used with success. It is the thought of many instructors that these triggers are used to encourage one or many of these three physical responses:

1.A desired pharyngeal width or laryngeal heighth
2.A desired  'effort' in the level of breath pressure
3.Allowing the vocal folds to stretch 

These emotional triggers seem to stimulate success in the singer when thought of during the preperatory inhale or when creating the  sound itself.


​

1. Whine
"I don't wannnnnnnnaaa"
Seems to encourage 'legato'
Seems to discourage 'overblowing' the air pressure
Seems to encourage stretching in the vocal folds and continuous adduction in the upper range

2.Whimper
"Puppy whines"
Seems to encourage stretching in the upper range without too much 'effort'

3. Cry
"Sob it out"
Seems to create a sense of 'releasing' breath with the sound
Encourages 'legato'
Creates a desired pharyngeal width for many styles

4. Sigh
"I siiiiiiigh to sing"
Seems to create a sense of 'releasing' breath with the sound
The inclination can be to have less adduction than with the  cry or sob
Encourages 'legato'
Creates a desired pharyngeal width for many styles
​

4. Mischief
Creates a desired pharyngeal width for many styles

5. Surprise
Encourages the jaw to drop on the inhale
Creates a desired pharyngeal width for many styles

6. Smirk/Pleased with yourself
Creates a desired pharyngeal width for many styles

7. Stifled laughter
Helps with 'continuous' energy throughout the sound without overblowing the air
Encourages 'legato'

8. Teasing "ohhhh youuuuuu"
Creates a desired pharyngeal width for many styles
​

Continuing the Discussion
​
Can you think of any others not on this list?

 Do you have a favorite? What makes it your favorite?

Do you ever have difficulty creating a bridge from one of these sounds/emotions to actual singing? 

What are the advantages/disadvantages to using these emotional triggers to get the pharyngeal posture/breath effort you're looking for rather than talking about it in physical terms?

~Laurel M.

Whine photo courtesy of Tharakorn at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.  Three excited people photo courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net. 
Laughing man photos courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net