Using mobile applications in the study of vocal skills

Area of Science:

• Music Education
• Educational Technology
• Vocal Pedagogy

Background:

• Vocal training traditionally relies on in-person instruction.
• The integration of mobile applications into music education is a growing area of research.
• Understanding the impact of technology on vocal skill acquisition is crucial for modern pedagogy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the impact of specialized mobile applications on vocal learning.
• To investigate the influence of student age and gender on the effectiveness of mobile vocal training apps.
• To compare the performance of students using mobile apps versus those in traditional learning settings.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 180 second- and fourth-year students from three Chinese universities.
• Utilized mobile applications Vox Tools: Learn to Sing and Swiftscales Vocal Trainer.
• Compared experimental groups (using apps) with control groups (no apps) over a six-month period (February-June 2021).

Main Results:

• Experimental groups using mobile apps achieved higher scores across five assessment criteria compared to control groups.
• Student age and gender did not significantly affect the effectiveness of the mobile applications for vocal training.
• A positive correlation was observed between student year level and overall performance, with fourth-year students outperforming second-year students.

Conclusions:

• Specialized mobile applications are effective tools for enhancing vocal learning.
• Multimedia educational tools can supplement traditional vocal training methods.
• Further research into mobile vocal training apps can optimize music education strategies.