One Voice Technique - OVT

One-Voice-Technique (OVT) is a functional vocal training method for singing that was developed by Annett Thoms in 2000. 

The medical study SiACo (SingAgainstCortisone) from 2020 has shown that vocal training using the OVT method in group lessons almost doubled the sound pressure level (SPL - SoundPressureLevel), i.e. the volume of the voice, after only 8 training units. The medical examinations also found a significantly reduced formation of mucus on the vocal cords and an improvement in the jitter value (irregularities in the fundamental frequency of the sound). The value for the vocal fold closure could even be doubled (!).

The basis for this type of voice formation is the natural physiological laws of the speaking voice. The modification of the air flow by phonation and articulation is almost identical to the modification of the air flow for the sound of the speaking voice, on all tones.

The larynx andpharynx muscles are trained in such a way that they retain their natural muscular strength (intramuscular coordination). Contractions or tension in the pharynx muscles are avoided.

This enables singers to sing from the lowest to the highest tone without changing the sound quality. The typical “break” (change in quality between two consecutive tones) is therefore missing.

Therefore, and this is a decisive advantage of the One-Voice-Technique, the vocal part is not divided into several vocal registers or "voices", as is usually the case (e.g. chest voice, head voice, middle voice, mixed voice), but it is, from the deepest to highest tone, ONE voice.

Another advantage of OVT is the emotional implementation of lyrics. Since the singing tone is almost identical to the tone of the speaking voice, the singing voice gets its different colours (sounds and effects) naturally due to the different emotions of the singers during the interpretations. The different colours (sounds and effects) do not have to be learned or trained „additionally“ in OVT.
All singing exercises have been and are being developed on the basis of the latest scientific findings in phoniatry and are constantly being checked accordingly.

This vocal training method has been taught at JAM MUSIC LAB - University for Jazz and Popular Music Vienna and at Gulda School of Music Vienna since 2011 und at OV LAB Institut from autumn 2024 by University Prof. Annett Thoms. The One Voice Technique is now also taught by former singing education students from Annett Thoms.