🎙️ Weekly Insight #36: How You Start Changes Everything
Last week we explored voice as a pillar—something that doesn't just carry your message but carries you. This week, we’re zooming in on the moment that structure begins: the onset.
It’s easy to think of sound as something we just make. But when you really pay attention, you'll notice: the way you start speaking often mirrors the way you show up emotionally. And that's where today’s practice begins.
What Is Onset?
In voice work, onset refers to the start of sound—the “attack,” to borrow a musical term. It’s the moment your breath becomes tone.
There are three commonly discussed onset types:
Aspirate onset (soft, breathy):
A gentle start where breath escapes before sound. Example: “happle” instead of “apple.”Glottal onset (hard, percussive):
A pop of sound created by the vocal folds coming together tightly. Example: saying “’Elias” with a vocal catch before the E.Balanced onset (coordinated, clean):
Breath and tone meet in sync—no extra air, no force. It’s the most sustainable for both speech and singing. In Italian, this is linked to appoggio, meaning support or pillar—a perfect architectural metaphor.
Onset and Emotional Intelligence
These vocal starts reflect and shape more than just sound. They tie directly into the five pillars of emotional intelligence:
Self-awareness: Do you notice how you usually begin speaking?
Self-regulation: Can you adjust how you start to fit the moment?
Motivation: Does your vocal energy reflect your intent?
Empathy: Can you soften or center your tone to connect with others?
Social skill: Are you adapting your vocal choices as needed?
Your voice begins before the sound—with breath. That intake of air already carries intention. This is especially important in aspirate onsets, which require more airflow.
Symbols as Sound Anchors
Whether we use IPA or familiar spelling cues like "ee" or "oh," the point is the same:
We’re giving ourselves a visual tool to recognize and reproduce sounds we already know—but might not yet know how to describe or train.
These symbols create consistency of concept—a shared framework that helps us stay grounded in exercises and real-world communication.
For example, the IPA symbol [i] (the “ee” sound) appears differently depending on the language:
English: “ee” → see, deep
German: “ie” → Lieder, Liebe
Italian: “i” → vino, milano
French: “î” → île, rire
That’s the power of IPA: it transcends language-specific spelling. But everyday phonetic cues—what some call “layman’s phonetics” or “practical spellings”—give us a way to engage more easily, especially when teaching or learning across different levels.
Try It: Onset Exercise with Pure Vowels
Let’s work with two pure vowels:
[o] as in go → “oh”
[i] as in see → “ee”
Now try each vowel with the three types of onset:
Aspirate (add an “h” in front)
ho ho ho [ho ho ho]
hee hee hee [hi hi hi]
Think: breathy, light, like Santa or laughter.
Glottal (start with a vocal pop)
’o ’o ’o [ʔo ʔo ʔo]
’e ’e ’e [ʔi ʔi ʔi]
Think: direct, punchy, sometimes intense.
Balanced (no breathiness or throat catch)
o o o [o o o]
e e e [i i i]
Think: smooth, centered, supported.
After each round, pause. Notice how it felt. Did your breath change? Did your intention shift?
Link here: Elias demonstrates the onset exercise.
Why This Matters
These aren’t just vocal tricks. They’re ways to get underneath your habits and start making conscious choices.
When you can name what you’re doing, you can begin to change how you sound, how you connect—and how you carry yourself.
Because the way you start… changes everything that follows.
Next Week: We’ll explore how to stay vocally resilient when the pressure’s on. Whether it’s a big moment, a long day, or a tough conversation, your voice can be a source of strength. I’ll share practical techniques for keeping it clear, steady, and strong.
Until then—listen to how you start.
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