The human voice is the oldest and most personal musical instrument. It produces sound when air from the lungs sets the vocal folds into vibration, and the resulting tone is shaped by the throat, mouth, and nasal cavities into vowels and consonants.

Voices are classified by range and color into categories such as soprano, alto, tenor, and bass, with many finer subdivisions. Singing technique develops breath control, resonance, diction, and expressive communication of text. Different musical styles demand different approaches to tone, vibrato, and articulation.

The voice can stand alone or combine with instruments. It carries language as well as melody, giving it a unique capacity for narrative and emotional specificity. Training the voice is both a physical and an artistic process that continues throughout a singer’s life.

• Sound produced by the human vocal folds
• Classified by range and timbre
• Combines music and language
• Requires specialized technical training