Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Singing”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Effects of HearFones on speaking and singing voice quality.

HearFones (HF) have been designed to enhance auditory feedback during phonation. This study investigated the effects of HF (1) on sound perceivable by the subject, (2) on voice quality in reading and singing, and (3) on voice production in speech and singing at the same pitch and sound level. Test 1: Text reading was recorded with two identical microphones in the ears of a subject. One ear was covered with HF, and the other was free. Four subjects attended this test. Tests 2 and 3: A reading sample was recorded from 13 subjects and a song from 12 subjects without and with HF on. Test 4: Six females repeated [pa:p:a] in speaking and singing modes without and with HF on same pitch and sound level. Long-term average spectra were made (Tests 1-3), and formant frequencies, fundamental frequency, and sound level were measured (Tests 2 and 3). Subglottic pressure was estimated from oral pressure in [p], and simultaneously electroglottography (EGG) was registered during voicing on [a:] (Test 4). Voice quality in speech and singing was evaluated by three professional voice trainers (Tests 2-4). HF seemed to enhance sound perceivable at the whole range studied (0-8 kHz), with the greatest enhancement (up to ca 25 dB) being at 1-3 kHz and at 4-7 kHz. The subjects tended to decrease loudness with HF (when sound level was not being monitored). In more than half of the cases, voice quality was evaluated "less strained" and "better controlled" with HF. When pitch and loudness were constant, no clear differences were heard but closed quotient of the EGG signal was higher and the signal more skewed, suggesting a better glottal closure and/or diminished activity of the thyroarytenoid muscle.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Pitch discrimination and pitch matching abilities of adults who sing inaccurately.

Past research regarding singing ability has provided evidence that both supports and refutes a relationship between pitch discrimination ability and pitch production ability. Researchers have suggested that these skills improve with age. Despite this suggestion, most investigators studying singing ability have included only children as participants. Additionally, although many researchers have studied accurate singers, few have directly studied persons who do not sing accurately. We designed this study to examine the relationship between pitch discrimination ability and pitch production ability in inaccurate adult singers. Fifteen adults, aged 18 to 40 years, that met specific criteria qualified as inaccurate singers. Each participated in two tasks, a pitch discrimination task and a pitch production task. We used the Multi-Dimensional Voice Profile-Advanced (Kay Elemetrics Corporation, Lincoln Park, NJ) to determine the frequency of each participant's vocal productions during the pitch production task. We also used a Pearson product moment correlation to analyze the relationship between pitch discrimination and pitch production accuracy within a semitone of the target frequency. No meaningful relationship was found, and results were not statistically significant. However, the inaccurate singers in this study could be classified into two separate categories, those who discriminated pitches accurately, but produced pitches inaccurately, and those who discriminated pitches inaccurately and produced pitches inaccurately. These findings may be of great importance to music educators and impact the focus of instruction when teaching an inaccurate singer to sing more accurately.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Are real-time displays of benefit in the singing studio? An exploratory study.

This article reports on an exploratory research project to evaluate the usefulness or otherwise of real-time visual feedback in the singing studio. The primary purpose of the work was not to optimize the technology for this application, but to work alongside teachers and students to study the impact of real-time visual feedback technology use on the students' learning experiences. An action research methodology was used to explore the benefit of real-time displays over an extended period. The experimental phase of the work was guided by a Liaison Panel of teachers and academics in the areas of singing, pedagogy, voice science, speech therapy, and linguistic science. Qualitative data were collected from eight students working with two professional singing teachers. The teachers and students acted as co-researchers under the action research paradigm. Teachers and students alike kept journals of their teaching and learning experiences. Singing lessons were observed regularly by the research team, coded for teacher and student behaviors, and all co-researchers were interviewed at the mid- and endpoint of the project. The use of technology had a positive impact on the learning process, and this is evidenced through case study data.

Equipment Design↗
PubMed2006

Effects of professional singing education on vocal vibrato--a longitudinal study.

Vocal vibrato is regarded as one of the essential characteristics of voice quality in classical singing. Professional singers seem to develop vibrato automatically, without actively striving to acquire it. In this longitudinal investigation, the vocal vibrato of 22 singing students was examined at the beginning of and after 3 years of professional singing education. Subjects sang an ascending-descending triad pattern in slow tempo on vowel [a:] at a comfortable pitch level twice at soft (piano) and twice at medium (mezzoforte) loudness. The top note of the triad pattern was sustained for approximately 5s. The mean and the standard deviation (SD) of the vibrato rate were measured for this note. Results revealed that after 3 years of training, voices with vibrato slower than 5.2 Hz were found to have a faster vibrato, and voices with vibrato faster than 5.8 Hz were found to have a slower vibrato. Standard deviation of vibrato rate was higher in soft than in medium loudness, particularly before the education. Also high values of SD of vibrato rate, exceeding 0.65 Hz, had decreased after the education. These findings confirm that vibrato characteristics can be affected by singing education.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Shared and distinct neural correlates of singing and speaking.

Using a modified sparse temporal sampling fMRI technique, we examined both shared and distinct neural correlates of singing and speaking. In the experimental conditions, 10 right-handed subjects were asked to repeat intoned ("sung") and non-intoned ("spoken") bisyllabic words/phrases that were contrasted with conditions controlling for pitch ("humming") and the basic motor processes associated with vocalization ("vowel production"). Areas of activation common to all tasks included the inferior pre- and post-central gyrus, superior temporal gyrus (STG), and superior temporal sulcus (STS) bilaterally, indicating a large shared network for motor preparation and execution as well as sensory feedback/control for vocal production. The speaking more than vowel-production contrast revealed activation in the inferior frontal gyrus most likely related to motor planning and preparation, in the primary sensorimotor cortex related to motor execution, and the middle and posterior STG/STS related to sensory feedback. The singing more than speaking contrast revealed additional activation in the mid-portions of the STG (more strongly on the right than left) and the most inferior and middle portions of the primary sensorimotor cortex. Our results suggest a bihemispheric network for vocal production regardless of whether the words/phrases were intoned or spoken. Furthermore, singing more than humming ("intoned speaking") showed additional right-lateralized activation of the superior temporal gyrus, inferior central operculum, and inferior frontal gyrus which may offer an explanation for the clinical observation that patients with non-fluent aphasia due to left hemisphere lesions are able to sing the text of a song while they are unable to speak the same words.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Changes of the speaking and singing voice after thyroid or parathyroid surgery.

BACKGROUND: While permanent dysphonia is a rare complication of thyroid or parathyroid surgery, postoperative changes of the speaking and/or singing voice often remain unrecognized. METHODS: In a prospective 4-arm study, vocal fold videolaryngostroboscopy and functional assessment of pre- and postoperative vocal performance was used to evaluate voice disturbances in 120 patients undergoing extended cervical surgery and in 19 patients with limited interventions for thyroid and/or parathyroid pathology. RESULTS: Impairments, especially of the singing voice, were predominantly observed after extended endocrine neck surgery. In women, the highest pitch of the singing voice (HPS) dropped from 651 Hz to 563 Hz (E5 to Csharp5, P < .001). In men, the HPS decreased to a lesser extent (423 Hz to 374 Hz, (Gsharp4 to Fsharp4, P = .009). Covariant analysis of influencing factors revealed the preoperative maximum frequency range and the HPS as predictors of the postoperative voice outcome. CONCLUSIONS: While alterations of the speaking voice after thyroid and parathyroid surgery usually remain subclinical, transient changes of the singing voice will matter to voice professionals.

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗
PubMed1999

Incidence of abnormal laryngeal findings in asymptomatic singing students.

OBJECTIVE: Abnormalities in the mucosal lining of the vocal folds may interfere with the normal vibratory patterns and result in vocal limitations, especially for singers whose demands are great. A prospective, longitudinal study was undertaken to investigate the incidence of laryngeal abnormalities in asymptomatic singing students. METHODS: Sixty-five singing students at the school of music underwent videostroboscopic evaluation and completed a comprehensive questionnaire. Videos were rated by 3 experienced clinicians, and interrater reliability was calculated. Results were correlated with demographic factors, background medical history, and singing history. RESULTS: Five students (8.3%) exhibited early signs of benign vocal fold lesions (2 with nodules and 3 with cysts). A high incidence of posterior erythema (n = 44; 73.4%), suggesting possible reflux, was found. CONCLUSIONS: A surprisingly high number of otherwise asymptomatic singing students demonstrated abnormal laryngeal findings. Their relationship with vocal performance will be addressed as well as implications for preventative measures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Strobovideolaryngoscopic findings in singing teachers.

Professional voice users often present to otolaryngologists and laryngologists with specific voice complaints. The contributions of pathologic lesions to the patients' vocal complaints are not always clear on examination, and often, premorbid examinations of the larynx are not available for review. This study examines the incidence of laryngeal pathology among singing teachers. At a national convention of singing teachers, volunteers were recruited for a "free strobovideolaryngoscopic examination." All volunteers completed a detailed questionnaire of their vocal and medical history and underwent strobovideolaryngoscopic examination. Strobovideolaryngoscopic examinations were completed in 20 volunteers, 7 of whom had voice complaints and 13 of whom perceived their voices to be normal. Vocal fold masses were common among the asymptomatic singing teachers. Evidence of reflux laryngitis was a common finding among both symptomatic and asymptomatic singing teachers. Asymmetries in vocal fold hypomobility were more common among those with voice complaints than was the presence of vocal fold masses in the population studied.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

A clearer view of singing voice production: 25 years of progress.

Voice research has enjoyed its most productive period of history during the past 25 years. Many of the enigmas related to the biomechanics and acoustics of the singing voice have been resolved. This paper presents state-of-the-art understanding regarding the following topics: vibrato, the singer's formant, formant tracking, voice registers, subglottal pressure, voice classification, modes of vocal fold vibration, laryngeal position during singing, flow glottography, and singing synthesis. In addition to these topics, the people who have made the most significant contributions to the advancement of singing research are recognized.

Humans↗
PubMed1997

Comparison of vocal tract formants in singing and nonperiodic phonation.

The skilled use of nonperiodic phonation techniques in combination with spectrum analysis has been proposed here as a practical method for locating formant frequencies in the singing voice. The study addresses the question of the degree of similarity between sung phonations and their nonperiodic imitations, with respect to both frequency of the first two formants as well as posture of the vocal tract. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), linear predictive coding (LPC), and spectrum analysis, two types of nonperiodic phonation (ingressive and vocal fry) are compared with singing phonations to determine the degree of similarity/difference in acoustic and spatial dimensions of the vocal tract when these phonation types are used to approximate the postures of singing. In comparing phonation types, the close similarity in acoustic data in combination with the relative dissimilarity in spatial data indicates that the accurate imitations are not primarily the result of imitating the singing postures, but have instead an aural basis.

Acoustics↗
PubMed1999

The external frame function in the control of pitch, register, and singing mode: radiographic observations of a female singer.

This study investigates pitch control, register, and singing mode related movements of the laryngo-pharyngeal structures by radiographic methods. One trained female singer served as the subject. The results show that singing voice production involves complex movements in the laryngeal structures. Pitch related increase in the thyro-arytenoid distance (vocal fold length) is nonlinear, slowing down as pitch rises. Similar observations have been made earlier. At the highest pitches, a shortening of the distance can be seen, suggesting the use of alternative pitch control mechanisms. The various observations made support the existence of three registers in this trained female singing voice. Open and covered modes of singing seemed to be distinguishable on the basis of different amounts of inner and outer forces acting on the larynx. Therefore, caution must be exercised when generalizing from the results.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

The molecular basis of instability of the singed(very weak) mutation in Drosophila melanogaster.

The singed(very weak) mutation was created by the sequential addition of two P transposable elements to the singed gene. The mutation can be somatically unstable through the action of a dominant maternal effect mutation on the second chromosome. It is also unstable in the germ line in these conditions. Sequencing of the region of the P insertions in the mutation reveals that the two inserted elements have single internal deletions, and the larger of the two is a copy of the KP element. The mutation will generate, at high frequencies, strongly singed and pseudo-wild type products by reversions occurred in the germline. These are the result of the precise excision of the smaller and the larger elements respectively. By PCR amplification of dissected thoraces we show that the somatic instability of the mutation, from a weak to a strong singed phenotype, is also caused by the excision of the smaller of the two elements.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Effect of facemask use on respiratory patterns of women in speech and singing.

PURPOSE: Research into respiratory behavior during singing and speech makes extensive use of standard respiratory and vented pneumotachograph facemasks. This study investigated whether the use of such facemasks would affect respiratory behavior in terms of lung volume (excursion, at initiation and at termination) or duration (of inspiration and of expiration) during speech or singing. METHOD: The respiratory patterns of 6 females were recorded using uniaxial surface magnetometry during 4 tasks: quiet breathing, a /pa/ syllabic train, reading ("The Rainbow Passage"), and singing a Christmas carol ("Silent night"). Each task was performed in 4 facemask conditions: wearing no facemask, wearing a facemask rim only, wearing a standard respiratory facemask, and wearing a vented pneumotachograph facemask. RESULTS: No significant effect was found for any of the facemask conditions on lung volume or duration measures during any tasks. CONCLUSION: The results confirm earlier studies that the vented pneumotachograph facemask does not affect breathing behavior in speech research studies and extends the finding to the study of breathing behavior in singing and to the use of a standard respiratory facemask.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Voicing duration and vocal SPL changes associated with stuttering reduction during singing.

This study was conducted to determine if stuttering reduction during singing is associated with increased voicing duration and increased vocal SPL. Eight moderate to severe stutterers comprised the experimental group. Eight normal speakers, matched pairwise with the stutterers for sex and age, served as controls. Pre-experimental testing indicated that all subjects knew from memory the melody of the well-known song "Home on the Range." Subsequently, subjects were asked to read aloud and sing altered lyrics of this song to the conventional melody. Results showed that from reading to singing, disfluency frequency decreased significantly among the stutterers. Both groups of subjects significantly increased voicing durations across the two conditions, but only the normal speakers increased vocal SPL during song. These results indicated that the reduction in stutterers' disfluency (stutterings included) during singing was attended by an altered pattern of vocalization that included an increase in voicing duration, but no significant change in vocal SPL. These findings are discussed with reference to vocal tract dynamics, especially those that might promote higher levels of fluency among stutterers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Intraventricular infusion of arginine vasotocin induces singing in a female songbird.

Arginine vasotocin (AVT) has been implicated in the activation of courtship and aggressive behaviors in many vertebrate taxa. Here, we tested its effect on singing and other vocal behavior in a songbird. Female white-crowned sparrows (Z. l. gambelii) were implanted with chronic cannulae aimed at the third ventricle. Infusions of AVT dramatically increased the number of songs and other vocalizations during a 40 min period following infusion. Half of the subjects sang full song following AVT treatment. No bird sang after treatment with saline; any type of vocalization after saline treatment was rare. Female white-crowned sparrows are known to sing in both spring and winter in the wild; this behavior is thought to be aggressive, functioning in dominance interactions and territoriality. Central infusion of AVT induced singing and other vocalizations in estrogen-primed, photostimulated subjects as well as in non-reproductive subjects housed on short photoperiods. Thus, the effects of AVT on vocal behavior may not require breeding levels of gonadal steroids and are probably not seasonal. We hypothesize that both in the breeding and non-breeding seasons, AVT increases motivation to sing.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Respiratory function in operatic singing: effects of emotional connection.

The respiratory patterns of five professional operatic singers when performing with "emotional connection" (EC) as if communicating to an audience were compared with "technical" (T) singing as if rehearsing. Recordings of the performances were played to experienced listeners to provide independent confirmation of the singers' intentions. The findings show that, in comparison with T singing, EC singing, especially in the aria task, used more air with a greater percentage of vital capacity (VC) expired per second, but without a simple association with sound pressure level (SPL) or breath (phrase) duration. These findings suggest that the performing state of mind itself can effect technical results in operatic singing. Pedagogical implications are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Persistent dysphonia in two performers affecting the singing and projected speaking voice: a report on a collaborative approach to management.

The projected speaking voice and the singing voice are highly sensitive to external and internal influences, and teachers of spoken voice and singing are in a unique position to identify subtle and more serious vocal difficulties in their students. Persistent anomalies may herald early onset of changes in vocal fold structure, neurophysiological control, or emotional stability. Two cases are presented to illustrate the benefits of a collaborative approach to diagnosis and management. The first, a 21-year-old male drama and singing student with an abnormally high speaking voice and falsetto singing voice was found to have a psychogenic dysphonia referred to as "puberphonia" or "mutational falsetto". The second, a 34-year-old female alto with strained phonation and perceived stutter of the vocal folds was diagnosed with "adductor spasmodic dysphonia" or "focal laryngeal dystonia" of neurological origin.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

The impact of 'open throat' technique on vibrato rate, extent and onset in classical singing.

Mitchell, Kenny et al. (2003) identified 'open throat' as integral to the production of an even and consistent sound in classical singing. In this study, we compared vibrato rate, extent and onset of six advanced singing students under three conditions: 'optimal' (O), representing maximal open throat; 'sub-optimal' (SO), using reduced open throat; and loud sub-optimal (LSO), using reduced open throat but controlling for the effect of loudness. Fifteen expert judges correctly identified the sound produced when singers used open throat with 85% accuracy. Having verified the technique perceptually, we used a series of univariate repeated measures ANOVAs with planned orthogonal contrasts to test the hypotheses that frequency modulations associated with vibrato rate, extent and onset would vary outside acceptable or desirable parameters for SO and LSO. Hypotheses were confirmed for vibrato extent and onset but not for rate. There were no significant differences between SO and LSO on any of the vibrato parameters. As vibrato is considered a key indicator of good singing, these findings suggest that open throat is important to the production of a good sound in classical singing.

Adult↗