Effects of Respiratory Muscle Strength Training in Classically Trained Singers.

Area of Science:

• Vocal Performance Science
• Respiratory Physiology

Background:

• Voice pedagogy often emphasizes breath control and lung volume management.
• The impact of enhanced respiratory muscle strength on trained singers' vocal production is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if progressive threshold training can increase respiratory muscle strength in singers.
• To determine if increased respiratory muscle strength affects airflow and phonation characteristics.

Main Methods:

• A single-subject design study involving six graduate-level singing students.
• Participants underwent inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength training in a counterbalanced order after a baseline phase.

Main Results:

• Singers demonstrated increased respiratory muscle strength following the training program.
• No consistent changes in aerodynamic or voice measures were observed across all participants, though individual variations occurred.

Conclusions:

• Progressive threshold training can enhance respiratory muscle strength in singers.
• Further investigation is warranted to explore the effects of respiratory muscle strength training on vocal outcomes, potentially in less advanced singers.