What Is VPO, and Why Does It Make Your Voice Brighter?
If you’ve ever wondered why some singers naturally sound “ringy,” “sparkly,” or “bright,” there’s a good chance you’re hearing the impact of VPO: the Velar-Pharyngeal Opening. It’s a small internal shift with a big acoustic payoff. Once you understand how VPO works and learn to feel it in your own voice, you can create clarity and brightness without pushing, tightening, or forcing your sound.
The Velar-Pharyngeal Opening refers to the space created when your soft palate lifts and the pharyngeal walls respond. That space changes how sound waves bounce around inside your vocal tract. When the VPO is more open, the voice gains natural clarity; when it’s less open, the sound becomes warmer and rounder. It’s a subtle but essential element of tone shaping—and it has nothing to do with nasality. VPO affects resonance, not airflow.
Why VPO Changes Your Tone Color
When VPO opens, high frequencies can resonate more freely. This results in a tone that feels and sounds brighter, clearer, and more present. Singers often experience it as an effortless “ring” in the sound.
More VPO typically gives you:
Brighter tone
Better clarity
More “ping” or “ring”
High notes that feel easier
Presence without pushing
Because brightness comes from acoustics rather than force, VPO helps singers sound more energized and expressive while using less physical effort.
How to Feel VPO in Your Own Voice
A great way to sense VPO is to start with an “NG” sound, like the end of the word sing. This lifts the back of the tongue and encourages the soft palate to naturally engage. From there, release into a vowel like “Ah” or “Eh” while keeping a gentle sense of lift. You’ll likely notice an immediate shift in tone color.
Another helpful tool is adding small glides like “hee” or “hoo,” which keep the resonance space open and flexible. Many singers report feeling a lighter, clearer sound almost instantly.
Try These Quick VPO Exercises
These warm-ups are simple and effective for activating VPO:
• NG Siren → “Ah” Release
Glide through your range on “ng,” then open into “ah” without dropping the lift.
• Light “Gee Gee Gee” Patterns (that’s [ghee] not [gee]
Keep the sound forward and clean—clarity, not volume.
• 5-Note Scale on “Nya Nya Nya”
A little bratty on purpose. This naturally encourages brightness without tension.
These exercises highlight VPO’s role in brightness and resonance while keeping the throat relaxed and responsive.
When Should Singers Use VPO?
VPO is especially useful when you want your voice to sound clear and present without pushing. It works beautifully across multiple singing styles.
Use VPO when you want:
Brightness and clarity
Cleaner resonance
Easier belt or mix
Stronger diction
More efficient high notes
Projection without shouting
It supports musical theatre, pop, CCM, choir singing, and even speaking voice work. Classical singers also use VPO, though they tend to apply it with more subtlety.
Common VPO Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
Singers sometimes over-lift the soft palate, creating tension or a hollow tone. Others confuse acoustic brightness with nasality and end up sending airflow through the nose. The key is balanced openness.
Avoid the most common mistakes:
❌ Over-lifting the soft palate
Fix: Think “lift and release,” not “lift and lock.”❌ Mistaking brightness for nasality
Fix: Keep airflow out of the nose; let only the vibrations travel forward.❌ Trying to force brightness
Fix: Stay light, not loud. Brightness should feel easy.
The Bottom Line
VPO is one of the most effective—and often overlooked—tools for shaping vocal brightness. A small internal shift can make your tone clearer, help your resonance shine, and make singing feel easier overall. Once you learn how to sense and adjust your VPO, you gain a customizable “brightness dial” you can apply to any style you sing.
If you’d like help exploring your VPO, adjusting resonance, or finding a brighter, freer sound, I work with singers at every level.
You can book a lesson at www.benjaminsalters.com.
