filter - v. to pass (something, such as a gas or liquid) through a filter to remove something unwanted
vocalizations - n. to express (something) by speaking words
baleen - n. whalebone.
jazz - n. a type of American music with lively rhythms and melodies that are often made up by musicians as they play
microphone - n. a device into which people speak or sing in order to record their voices or to make them sound louder
motivated - adj. to have a lot of reason to do something
fingernails on a chalkboard - idiom. referring to an extremely annoying, unpleasant uncomfortably loud sound or noise.
variety - n. a number or collection of different things or people