Activity 1.4 - Analysis of voice sound

Learning Aims:
  • Understanding that the vibration of vocal cords creates our voice
  • Interpreting sound waveforms of a variety of voice sounds
  • Understanding differences between sound waveforms of different voice sounds
Materials:
A sound sensor, interface and software that displays sound waveforms (e.g. CMA Coach 6)
Suggestions for use:

Divide the class into small groups, hand out Classroom Material: Analysis of voice sounds (Part 1) and let students do activities described under Observation and Investigation. Then discuss with them how voice sounds are made.

Classroom Material: Analysis of voice sounds (Part II). Let them do their own investigations with a sound sensor. If needed help students to set up the experiment and perform measurements with the computer.
Possible questions:
  • How voice sounds are made?
  • How the vocal cords work?
  • What is the difference in waveforms of tuning fork and voice sounds?
  • What is the difference in waveforms of different vowels?