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At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

The Effect of Singing Paired with Signing on Receptive Vocabulary Skills ofElementary ESL Students.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of singing paired with signing on receptive vocabulary skills of elementary English as a Second Language (ESL) students. Eighty children attended language sessions in one of the following rehearsal conditions: sung text paired with signs, spoken text paired with signs, sung text, and a control group of spoken text only. Pretest and posttest data were analyzed to determine gains in receptive vocabulary identification. Results from this study indicate that all four groups made significant pretest to posttest gains. Children in the sung text paired with sign and the spoken text paired with sign conditions, however, made significantly greater gains in vocabulary recognition than those in the control condition of spoken text only. These findings suggest the benefits of integrating signs into second language rehearsal to provide visual cues and to engage students in meaningful physical participation. The condition yielding the highest mean gain score was that in which signing was paired with singing, indicating there may be advantages to using a combination of the two for language acquisition.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Singing as a Therapeutic Agent, inThe Etude, 1891-1949.

The Etude music magazine, founded by Theodore Presser, was one of a number of popular music magazines published in the years prior to the establishment of the music therapy profession in 1950. During its publication run from 1883 to 1957, over 100 music therapy related articles appeared, including 13 on the health benefits of singing published between 1891 and 1949. Written by authors with diverse backgrounds, such as the famous Battle Creek, Michigan physician John Harvey Kellogg and Boston music critic Louis C. Elson, the articles contained consistent and adamant support regarding the health benefits of singing. The advantages described were both physical and psychological, and were recommended prophylactically for well persons and therapeutically for ill persons. Although the articles varied in perspective, from philosophical to theoretical to pedagogical, there is a consistent holistic medicine theme that appeared almost ahead of its time and no doubt linked to the push for vocal music education in that era. The importance of The Etude in promulgating ideas that helped shape the early practice of music therapy should not be underestimated. For much of its publication run The Etude was the largest music periodical in print, reaching its peak circulation of 250,000 copies per month in 1924.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Acoustic detections of singing humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the eastern North Pacific during their northbound migration.

Numerous (84) acoustic detections of singing humpback whales were made during a spring (08 March-09 June 1997) research cruise to study sperm whales in the central and eastern North Pacific. Over 15,000 km of track-line was surveyed acoustically using a towed hydrophone array. Additionally, 83 sonobuoys were deployed throughout the study area. Detection rates were greatest in late March, near the Hawaiian Islands, and in early April, northeast of the islands. Only one detection was made after April. Detection rates for sonobuoys were unequal in three equally divided longitudinal regions of the study area. Two high density clusters of detections occurred approximately 1200-2000 km northeast of the Hawaiian Islands and were attributed to a large aggregation of migrating animals. The distribution of these detections corroborates findings of previous studies. It is possible that these animals were maintaining acoustic contact during migration. Two unexpected clusters of singing whales were detected approximately 900 to 1000 km west of central and southern California. The location of these detections may indicate a previously undocumented migration route between an offshore breeding area, such as the Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico, and possible feeding areas in the western North Pacific or Bering Sea.

Acoustics↗
PubMed1975

Arrhythmically singing crickets: thermoperiodic reentrainment after bilobectomy.

The circadian control of the calling song of crickets is abolished by severance of the optic lobes. The arrhythmic singing activity of operated animals is unaffected by all possible light conditions, yet the singing can be reentained by a daily temperature cycle. The characteristics of this reentrainment indicate the that temperature is acting as an actual Zeitgeber. In light of these results the current hypothesis which ascribes a driving oscillator function to the optic lobes must be reevaluated.

Animal Communication↗
PubMed2005

Comparison of the retinal structure and function in four bird species as a function of the time they start singing in the morning.

We postulated that the retinas of bird species that are the earlier singers are more sensitive to low light conditions than species that sing closer to sunrise. The selected species were the American Robin (Turdus migratorius) and the Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) as early singers, the Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) and the Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) which join the dawn chorus near sunrise. Scotopic electroretinogram (ERGs) intensity-response functions were obtained from anesthetized birds, following which the animals were euthanized and their retinas processed for histological analysis. Based on k values, generally considered an adequate measurement of the scotopic (rod) retinal sensitivity, all species yielded comparable night vision capabilities. However, based on the maximal (mixed rod-cone response) amplitude of the scotopic b-wave, our results indicate that robins and thrushes yield larger scotopic ERGs compared with doves and grackles, but unexpectedly do not have higher rod:cone ratios. Increased thickness of the retinal inner nuclear layer and higher numbers of ganglion cells in robins and thrushes compared with doves and grackles suggest a greater number of synaptic connections maximizing vision under low light conditions, and might support their higher retinal responses under scotopic conditions. The higher ERG V(max) of robins and thrushes might also be explained, at least in part, by the optics (i.e., their lower minimum F-numbers), resulting in brighter retinal images, rather than from higher sensitivity of their retina. Our results suggest that an early onset of dawn singing might be correlated with the retinal ability to detect the first dim crepuscular lights.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Human hearing modelling real-time spectrography for visual feedback in singing training.

The traditional form of spectrography employed for speech analysis makes use of fixed bandwidth bandpass filters, which are usually set either to wide-band or narrow-band to optimise the time and frequency resolution of the resulting spectrogram respectively. The acoustic analysis carried out by the human ear can be modelled as a bank of bandpass filters whose bandwidth changes as a function of centre frequency, and therefore the time and frequency resolution varies with frequency. This paper describes a spectrographic analysis technique that is based on peripheral human hearing and considers its potential for application within a real-time visual display for singing training by comparing its output with traditional wide- and narrow-band spectrograms. The potential advantages and disadvantages of hearing modelling spectrography for this application are illustrated and discussed for a selection of sung material, some of which has been recorded during singing lessons where traditional spectrography is being employed.

Feedback↗
PubMed2006

Effects of vocal training on respiratory kinematics during singing tasks.

This longitudinal study determined the effects of vocal training (VT) on respiratory kinematics and muscle activity during singing tasks. Four voice students, 3 females and 1 male, were recorded during singing tasks once a semester for 3 consecutive semesters. Respiratory kinematic measures included lung volume, rib cage (RCE) and abdominal excursions (ABE). Surface electromyographic measures included burst duration (BD) and peak amplitude (PA) of the pectoralis major, rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles. Descriptive statistics revealed that RCE and ABE increased from the 1st to the 2nd semester, but decreased from the 2nd to the 3rd semester of VT. Overall, mean BD decreased from the 1st to the 2nd semester and increased from the 2nd to the 3rd semester. Mean PA increased from the 1st to the 2nd semester and decreased from the 2nd to the 3rd semester of VT. RCE and muscle force generation of the above muscles increased as the demand level and the length of the phonatory tasks increased. Interpretation of the results suggests that the respiratory system is highly responsive to VT, after only 3 semesters of training.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

High-resolution frequency analysis as applied to the singing voice.

We have applied high-resolution vocal frequent analysis to a population of singing voices. Two important elements have become apparent: (1) Confirmation that the singing formant originates in the resonators. This is observed especially on a low fundamental, and it is acquired through technical skill and experience. (2) Observation of the vibrato, which, isolated from the clinical study, regarding only its graphic presentation, could have been interpreted as 'abnormal'.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Training singing children during the phases of voice mutation.

Development of singing ability in children is well documented and frequently fraught with admonitions to postpone formal training until the age of 17 or 18 years for boys and 16 years for girls, when voice change is usually complete and the risk for damaging developing structures is minimal. The author contends that the interval of voice mutation, a time of rapid physical change, is precisely the period when the young singer should pursue human musical instrument training under tutelage of singing teachers knowledgeable and experienced in the training techniques described herein and with the guidance of an otorhinolaryngologist to evaluate and monitor fitness. Voice mutation is viewed as a natural process of maturation, which can be enhanced by a formal training program.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Does a mother singing to her premature baby affect feeding in the neonatal intensive care unit?

Recent studies suggest that premature neonates exposed to music have reduced symptoms of stress, faster weight gain, and shorter neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stays. This pilot study attempted to measure contingent effects of mothers' singing during feedings. Mothers sang to their babies during 2 of 4 feedings on 2 consecutive days, logging songs they sang, and subjectively evaluating each feeding. Infants' heart and respiration rates were recorded as well as duration of feeding and volume of fluid taken orally; feeding velocity and percent of feeding goal were calculated. In paired t tests, no significant benefits or deterrents assignable to the singing were observed.

Bottle Feeding↗
PubMed2002

Caregiver singing and background music in dementia care.

Caregiver singing and background music were incorporated into the interaction between caregiver and patient, the aim being to illuminate the meaning of verbal communication between persons with severe dementia and their caregivers. In the absence of music, patients communicated with cognitive and behavioral symptoms associated with dementia. In these situations, caregivers devoted their verbal communication to narrating and explaining their caring activities to the patient. The patient and caregiver, however, had difficulties understanding one another. In the presence of background music, caregivers decreased their verbal instructing and narrating while the patient communicated with an increased understanding of the situation, both verbally and behaviorally. During caregiver singing, a paradoxical effect was observed such that despite at evident reduction in the amount of verbal narration and description by the caregiver; the patient implicitly understood what was happening.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Molecular characterization of the singed wings locus of Drosophila melanogaster.

BACKGROUND: Hormones frequently guide animal development via the induction of cascades of gene activities, whose products further amplify an initial hormonal stimulus. In Drosophila the transformation of the larva into the pupa and the subsequent metamorphosis to the adult stage is triggered by changes in the titer of the steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone. singed wings (swi) is the only gene known in Drosophila melanogaster for which mutations specifically interrupt the transmission of the regulatory signal from early to late ecdysone inducible genes. RESULTS: We have characterized singed wings locus, showing it to correspond to EG:171E4.2 (CG3095). swi encodes a predicted 68.5-kDa protein that contains N-terminal histidine-rich and threonine-rich domains, a cysteine-rich C-terminal region and two leucine-rich repeats. The SWI protein has a close homolog in D. melanogaster, defining a new family of SWI-like proteins, and is conserved in D. pseudoobscura. A lethal mutation, swit476, shows a severe disruption of the ecdysone pathway and is a C>Y substitution in one of the two conserved CysXCys motifs that are common to SWI and the Drosophila Toll-4 protein. CONCLUSIONS: It is not entirely clear from the present molecular analysis how the SWI protein may function in the ecdysone induced cascade. Currently all predictions agree in that SWI is very unlikely to be a nuclear protein. Thus it probably exercises its control of "late" ecdysone genes indirectly. Apparently the genetic regulation of ecdysone signaling is much more complex then was previously anticipated.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Functional neuroanatomy of the sensorimotor control of singing.

Reviews of the songbird vocal control system frequently begin by describing the forebrain nuclei and pathways that form anterior and posterior circuits involved in song learning and song production, respectively. They then describe extratelencephalic projections upon the brainstem respiratory-vocal system in a manner suggesting, quite erroneously, that this system is itself well understood. One aim of this chapter is to demonstrate how limited is our understanding of that system. I begin with an overview of the neural network for the motor control of song production, with a particular emphasis on brainstem structures, including the tracheosyringeal motor nucleus (XIIts), which innervates the syrinx, and nucleus retroambigualis (RAm), which projects upon XIIts and upon spinal motor neurons innervating expiratory muscles. I describe the sources of afferent projections to XIIts and RAm and discuss their probable role in coordinating the bilateral activity of respiratory and syringeal muscles during singing. I then consider the routes by which sensory feedback, which could arise from numerous structures involved in singing, might access the song system to guide song learning, maintain accurate song production, and inform the song system of the requirements for air. I describe possible routes of access of auditory feedback, which is known to be necessary for song learning and maintenance, and identify potential sites of interaction with somatosensory and visceral feedback that could arise from the syrinx, the lungs and air sacs, and the upper vocal tract, including the jaw. I conclude that the incorporation of brainstem-based respiratory-vocal variables is likely to be a necessary next step in the construction of more sophisticated models of the control of vocalization.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Neural substrates governing audiovocal integration for vocal pitch regulation in singing.

The integration of auditory feedback with the vocal motor system is essential for singing, because precise control of vocal pitch is necessary to produce notes and melodies accurately. We used singing tasks with fMRI to determine the neural substrates involved in audiovocal integration. In tasks that specifically required monitoring of auditory feedback and pitch control, neural activity increased in the anterior cingulate cortex and insula, which suggests that these regions may play a special role in audiovocal integration.

Auditory Cortex↗
PubMed1996

Singers' and non-singers' vocal health, vocal behaviours, and attitudes towards voice and singing: indirect findings from a questionnaire.

A vocal health questionnaire was administered in three locations in the USA to female university singers and non-singers. The responses of 70 singers and 89 non-singers were analysed. The questionnaire solicited background information as well as information about vocal health and symptoms, vocally abusive speech habits, attitudes toward singing and vocal health, feelings about the voice, and general affective/dysphoric tendencies. There were marked, sometimes diametric, differences between singers' and non-singers' responses, attesting to the unique attitude and heightened sensitivity and concern of singers regarding voice, singing and vocal health.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[The application of aerodynamic method for the evaluation of the efficiency of the vocal, articulation and respiratory organs during singing and playing wind instruments].

This paper discusses the application of the aerodynamic method for the estimation of the efficiency of the vocal articulation and respiratory organ during singing and playing wind instruments. An evaluation of the vocal and respiratory organ was carried out on the basis of an analysis and correlation between the following parameters: PV--phonation volume, MPT--maximum phonation/playing time, SP--subglottal/blowing pressure, MFR--mean flow rate, GR--glottal resistance, EP--expiratory power, W--work. Volume and airflow was measured by a pneumotachometr with an electronic spirometer. The application of a plethysmographic booth made it possible to carry out non-invasive, indirect measurements of the subglottal and blowing pressure. Changes of pressure during singing and playing were recorded in the form of an aerodynamogram curve. This curve was used to determine the maximum duration of sound. Other quantities were derived from a mathematical analysis.

Humans↗
PubMed1975

[Effect of testosterone on the beginning of singing in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata castanotis)].

In young male Zebra finches, singing was advanced in time by injections of testosterone-propionate. The juvenile song, which normally occurs on day 34 to 37, could be shifted to day 18 to 19, when injection took place at the 16th day; either earlier or later injections delayed singing (at 25 to 35 days). The advanced juvenile song differs from the normal one, mainly the rhythm is less mature. There seems to be a point prior to which juvenile song cannot be induced, depending possible on the maturation of central nervous motor centers.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2005

[Singing formant analysis of KunQu actors in their mutation and grown-up].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the singing formant differences between successful opera actors and non-successful opera actors during their adolescence period, and to compare the same index between adolescence and adult period of successful actors. METHODS: From 1985 to 1986, the author had 21 adolescent actors' voice recorded, all of them were from Beijing KunQu opera troupe. In 2000, all the 21 subjects had their voice recorded and singing formant (Fs) analyzed by using computer and sound spectrograph, 7 of them had become adult actors, others quitted their actors career after adolescents period. RESULT: Successful actors have obvious Fs, and stronger acoustic energy; successful actors had weaker Fs value during adolescence period than during adult period (t = 2. 9600, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Fs's presence and its acoustic energy were important to evaluate adolescent actors future locality potential.

Adolescent↗