The queen of squillo or ring: the vowel I
Following my previous post on the vowel “U” as the foundation of the Melocchi technique, I’d like to delve deeper into how vowels are used in this vocal school—specifically, the critical role of the vowel “I.”
The second most important vowel, especially emphasized by Mario and Marcello del Monaco, is “I.” This vowel plays a key role in activating the thyroarytenoid muscles, which help close the vocal cords firmly. This closure is essential for maintaining the “ring” or squillo in the voice. It is particularly helpful for students who struggle with breathy or weak vocal tone—signs of underactive thyroarytenoids. When these muscles are not sufficiently engaged, the voice may flip into falsetto or allow excess air to leak through the cords.
There are several videos of Mario del Monaco discussing the importance of vowels like “I” and “E” for achieving the height of the sound. Scientifically speaking, this “height” results from strong vocal fold adduction, which increases the intensity of the sound at its source. When a strong glottal signal is combined with a resonant, open throat, the result is the ideal operatic sound: powerful, ringing, and balanced.
In short, two key elements must work together: good vocal fold closure and an open pharyngeal resonator. However, vowel choice should always be tailored to the student’s specific vocal needs. The vowel “I” becomes especially important when the vocal cords do not yet resist subglottic pressure adequately. In such cases, using “U” alone won’t be effective—the voice will lack squillo, and the singer may have to overcompensate with excessive breath pressure when ascending the scale.
When this is the case, the student should begin with exercises using the vowel “I” to strengthen closure. Once closure is consistent and the thyroarytenoids are active, the student can return to the vowel “U” to develop laryngeal depth and pharyngeal space. While “I” is essential for building cord closure, it does not assist in achieving an open throat—that function is uniquely served by the vowel “U.”
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