AVF: The Adaptive Voice Framework
The owner's manual your voice never came with
The voice is a fluid, balanced system driven by expressive intent. When you understand how it works, everything else falls into place — technique, style, expression, health.
I developed the Adaptive Voice Framework over four decades of teaching, performing, and studying with master teachers across every vocal tradition. AVF brings together voice science, physical awareness, and artistic expression into one clear picture — a framework that makes sense of every methodology and every genre.
This isn't another method competing for your loyalty. It's the owner's manual that helps you understand what you already have.
Nearly 700 pages · Paperback $42.95 · Kindle $9.99
A framework that makes sense of them all
Over the years, I studied with dozens of teachers across every major vocal tradition — Bel canto, Estill, Speech Level Singing, Alexander Technique, and more. Each approach offered real insight. Each had something valuable to teach.
But I kept noticing something: the best ideas connected. What seemed like contradictions were often the same principle seen from different angles. The more I learned, the more I saw a coherent picture emerging underneath.
What seemed like contradictions were often the same principle seen from different angles.
AVF is that picture. It explains the universal principles that make voices function well — across every style, genre, and context. Classical, contemporary, musical theater, speech, podcast. The foundations are the same.
When you understand these foundations, techniques that seemed contradictory start to connect. You see why certain approaches work for certain goals. You gain the clarity to make good choices for your voice — or to help your students make good choices for theirs.
The Five Pillars — foundations every healthy voice shares
Regardless of style, every sustainable voice rests on these same foundations:
Body Organization
The way your body is organized shapes everything that follows.
Breath Mechanics
The engine that powers your voice.
Phonation
How your vocal folds create tone.
Resonance
How that tone is shaped and amplified.
Expression
The artistic and emotional intent that brings it all to life.
These pillars work together as a balanced system. When one is out of alignment, the others compensate. Understanding this relationship gives you a clear starting point for growth — and helps you identify what's actually happening when something feels off.
The Eight Dials — settings that create stylistic variety
While the pillars provide stability, the dials provide fluidity. These are the variables that let you shift your voice to fit different styles, contexts, and artistic choices:
Above them all sits the Master Dial: Emotional Intent — the primary driver that coordinates everything else. The voice organizes itself around what you're trying to express. When intention leads, technique follows.
Who this framework is for
Singers
of any genre who want to understand their instrument — with the freedom to cross styles safely and the knowledge to keep growing.
Voice teachers
looking for a framework that explains why different approaches work, and how to apply them with clarity across every student you encounter.
Speakers and professionals
who rely on their voice daily and want it to function reliably, clearly, and authentically — without strain.
Anyone
ready to understand their voice as a fluid, balanced system — and develop a relationship with it that lasts.
The Book
AVF: The Adaptive Voice Framework
Bridging Science, Somatics, and Soul
This is the complete framework — nearly 700 pages covering everything from the science of vocal function to practical application across every genre and context. Written at a collegiate level but designed to be accessible, it's the canonical reference for anyone serious about understanding the voice.
What's inside:
- The Five Pillars and Eight Dials explained in depth
- Cross-genre applications from classical to contemporary
- Gender-affirming voice protocols and aging voice strategies
- Seven practical appendices with diagnostic tools and lesson templates
- 100+ sources grounded in voice science and pedagogy
Formats:
Paperback — $42.95
Kindle — $9.99
Published December 2025
Learn the framework directly
The book gives you the complete picture. Working with me brings it to life.
I offer private coaching for singers and speakers, ensemble workshops, and group training — all grounded in AVF principles. Whether you're developing your own voice or learning to teach others, I can help you put this framework into practice.
Common Questions About AVF
Is the Adaptive Voice Framework a new vocal method?
AVF is a framework, not a method. Methods offer a specific sequence of steps for training. AVF explains the underlying principles that make all methods work. It helps you understand why certain approaches are effective and how to choose the right tools for any voice, in any context.
Do I need to read all 700 pages?
The book is designed as both a cover-to-cover read and a reference you return to. The first few chapters lay the foundation. From there, you can explore the Five Pillars and Eight Dials in whatever order fits your interests. The seven appendices offer practical diagnostic tools and lesson templates you can use immediately.
Is AVF only for professional singers?
AVF is for anyone who uses their voice with intention. Professional singers, beginning students, voice teachers, speakers, and choir directors all find value in understanding how the voice works as a system. The principles are universal — how deeply you go depends on your goals.
Does AVF work for contemporary and pop styles, or just classical?
AVF covers every genre. The Five Pillars are universal foundations shared by all healthy voices. The Eight Dials are what create stylistic variety — they explain how a classical sound differs from a pop sound, and how to move between them safely. The book includes specific cross-genre applications.
Can I learn AVF on my own, or do I need coaching?
The book gives you the complete framework. Many readers find they can apply insights immediately just from reading. Working with me directly brings the framework to life through personalized coaching, hands-on application, and real-time feedback. Both paths are valuable.
Is the book available in digital format?
Yes. The Kindle edition is $9.99 on Amazon. The paperback is $42.95. Both contain the full text, diagrams, and appendices.
Your voice didn't come with an owner's manual. Until now.
AVF gives you a way to understand what's happening when you sing or speak — and the tools to keep growing. Whether you're a beginner finding your voice or a professional refining your craft, this framework meets you where you are.
Get Your Copy on AmazonQuestions about the framework? Email AVF@tedsvoiceacademy.com