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Vocal Instabilities in Untrained Female Singers
Michelle M Bretl1, Ronald C Scherer2
1Department of Surgery, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI.
Journal of Voice : Official Journal of the Voice Foundation
|January 8, 2025
Summary
Untrained female singers can produce smooth octave scales with specific voice instabilities. The primary unsteadiness involved aphonic segments and intensity reduction, with subtle instabilities linked to register changes.
Area of Science:
- Vocal pedagogy and acoustics
- Speech and hearing science
Background:
- Vocal instabilities in untrained singers are not well-characterized.
- Understanding these instabilities is crucial for effective vocal training.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify and describe voice instabilities in untrained female singers during octave scale production.
- Relate instabilities to acoustic, airflow, intensity, and electroglottography (EGG) parameters.
Main Methods:
- A multisignal descriptive study involving five untrained female singers.
- Singers produced octave scales with /α/ and /i/ vowels, at different dynamics, and across register transitions, in smooth and unsteady conditions.
- Acoustic, airflow, intensity, and EGG data were analyzed, categorizing scales as Smooth, Middle, or Unsteady.
Main Results:
- Thirteen types of voice instabilities were identified, with counts ranging from zero to fourteen per scale.
- Unsteady scales exhibited more instabilities, including aphonic segments and significant intensity reductions.
- Subtle instabilities, like EGG signal changes, were present even in Smooth scales.
Conclusions:
- Untrained singers can achieve smooth scale production.
- Aphonic segments and intensity drops are key indicators of vocal unsteadiness.
- Objective measures may highlight instabilities not readily perceived auditorily, offering insights into vocal control and register transitions.
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