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Construction and Characterization of a Novel Vocal Fold Bioreactor
Published on: August 1, 2014
Change in vibrato rate and extent during tertiary training in classical singing students
Helen F Mitchell1, Dianna T Kenny
1Australian Centre for Applied Research in Music Performance, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia. h.mitchell@usyd.edu.au
Journal of Voice : Official Journal of the Voice Foundation
|October 24, 2009
Summary
Classical singing students showed significant improvements in vibrato extent (VE) and vibrato rate variability (VRSD) during two years of tertiary training. Vibrato rate (VR) remained stable, indicating vocal training refines vibrato quality.
Area of Science:
- Vocal pedagogy
- Acoustic phonetics
- Singing voice science
Background:
- Vibrato is a crucial element of the classical singing voice.
- Developing vibrato is essential for elite singing students.
- Vocal training aims to refine vocal production, including vibrato characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally measure changes in vibrato rate (VR) and vibrato extent (VE) in student singers.
- To assess the regularity (standard deviation) of VR and VE over four semesters of tertiary voice training.
- To understand how vibrato parameters evolve during formal music education.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study tracked 15 singers over four semesters (2 years) of conservatorium training.
- Singers performed sustained pitches across their vocal range.
- Vibrato rate (VR) and vibrato extent (VE) were calculated from fundamental frequency traces, along with their standard deviations (SD).
Main Results:
- Significant increases in vibrato extent (VE) were observed over the training period.
- Significant decreases in the standard deviation of vibrato rate (VRSD) indicated improved vibrato periodicity.
- Vibrato rate (VR) remained within normal limits and showed no significant change; vibrato extent standard deviation (VESD) also did not change significantly.
Conclusions:
- Tertiary vocal training leads to significant improvements in vibrato extent and regularity.
- Further research is needed to determine if these changes continue with longer training durations.
- The findings suggest major vibrato development may occur early in tertiary-level voice training.
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