Probably the most complex and difficult musical instrument that can be imagined is the apparatus in human beings that produces speech! In order for sounds and letters to be formed, this entire apparatus must be used. This includes the abdomen, chest, larynx, mouth, nose, diaphragm, various muscles, tongue, palate, lips, and teeth!

The most important ones used in making spoken sounds are the muscles of the mouth, the palate, lips, and tongue. The only reason we can “play” this instrument so well, is that we learned how to do it when we were most adaptable during early childhood, and because we have practiced it ever since! Obviously, if we can’t play this instrument (the vocal apparatus) with perfect coordination, then something happens to our speech. It comes out wrong and we stammer.