Ready to Cheer? Start yodeling!

Yodeling is not a solely Alpine tradition but extends across many disparate cultures around the world, including Central Africa Pygmy singers; Persian classical music; and Australian Aboriginals. A yodel is not necessarily the sound we associate with pigtails and lederhosen. It is a vocal oscillation between the head voice and the chest voice; the break that occurs upon the movement between the two voices is the central characteristic of yodeling. Yodeling is not demanding on the lungs as it relies on diaphragmatic breathing which produces the same feeling of physical wellbeing as laughter or yogic breathing. Consequently, yodeling has long been used by humans as both an effective form of long distance, non-verbal communication and also as solo and communal vocal play.