What’s really happening inside the larynx when we ‘tilt?’ In this episode, Alexa is joined by voice researcher Mathias Aaen to unpack the science behind thyroid tilt – exploring what his latest studies reveal about pitch, vocal fold lengthening, and healthy singing. The pair cut through common misconceptions, translate research into studio-ready language, and ask the big question: are our teaching prompts actually doing what we think they are? If you love practical pedagogy grounded in solid science, this one’s for you.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
2:58 What is tilt? Anatomy & physiology
6:35 CVT framework
16:13 Study results
22:45 Physiology vs the perceptual
25:36 Teaching prompts
43:10 Vocal fold length and pitch change
48:14 Enemies of tilt
52:37 Common misconceptions about tilt
About the presenter HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
Investigating Laryngeal “Tilt” on Same-pitch Phonation—Preliminary Findings of Vocal Mode, Metal and Density Parameters as Alternatives to Cricothyroid-Thyroarytenoid “Mix” by Mathias Aaen et al
Correlating Degree of Thyroid Tilt Independent of fo Control as a Mechanism for Phonatory Density with EGG and Acoustic Measures across Loudness Conditions by Mathias Aaen et al
Singing Teachers Talk – Ep.131 Mastering Research Papers: How to Read with Ease and Extract Knowledge
Ian Howell
Dr Ingo Titze
Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedica
Manuel Garcia
Praat
ABOUT THE GUEST
Mathias Aaen, PhD is a voice researcher, educator, academic supervisor, and certified rehabilitation specialist. He holds positions as Honorary Researcher at Nottingham University Hospitals and VP of Research & Collaboration at CVI and was previously a Fulbright Fellow at UC Berkeley, CA. His research centres on voice physiology, acoustics, auditory-perceptual analysis, and techniques for voice habilitation/rehabilitation. He regularly publishes research articles in international scientific journals, including, alongside renowned co-authors, groundbreaking articles documenting the physiology and health of Rock, Heavy Metal, Pop, Gospel, Jazz, and more CCM genres, with specific focus on rough vocal effects. Mathias finished his PostDoc involving clinical trials testing the CVT framework as a treatment approach for Dysphonia in MTD and ABI patients. He is the recipient and co-recipient of several international research awards. As a singer, Mathias has performed on Danish national television, sung on multiple records, and toured in Europe and in the US. As an Authorised CVT Teacher, he is a sought-after guest lecturer and has worked with voice professionals on famous stages and in productions around Europe, Asia, and the US, including e.g. The Metropolitan Opera, LA Opera, Teatro alla Scala, as well as lead voices featured in Disney movies.
