Task-Dependent Velopharyngeal Timing in Singers with Classical Training

This study examined velopharyngeal (VP) timing characteristics during singing and speaking tasks among singers with varying degrees of classical training.

Pressure-flow data were collected when eight soprano singers sang and spoke the phrase, "I will say hamper," at different pitch (C4 and C5) and loudness levels (soft, medium, and loud). VP aerodynamic variables (VP gap, peak nasal airflow [NF], and peak intraoral pressure [OP]) and timing variables (NF pulse duration, OP pulse duration, and total duration of the /mp/ sequence) were of particular interest.

Results of linear mixed-effects models showed no significant main effect of task type (speaking vs. singing) on VP aerodynamic variables. Task type was found to have a statistically significant main effect on OP pulse duration (F_{(1, 77)} = 27.590, P < 0.05) and total duration of the /mp/ sequence (F_{(1, 75.034)} = 17.895, P < 0.05), with both durational measures significantly shorter for singing (OP pulse duration: 200 ms, total duration of the /mp/ sequence: 212 ms) than for speaking (OP pulse duration: 228 ms, total duration of the /mp/ sequence: 238 ms). The pitch had a significant main effect on OP pulse duration, with C5 (207 ms) significantly shorter than C4 (221 ms). Loudness was found to have no significant main effects on any of the VP timing variables.

VP timing patterns significantly differed between the singing and the speaking task. Specifically, the singers employed a quick OP pulse rise time, which shortened OP pulse duration as well as the total duration of the /mp/ sequence during the singing task in comparison to the speaking task. Robust VP timing patterns observed during singing may reflect the singers' skilled control of the VP mechanism to achieve functional and esthetic goals.