Mapping the characteristics of training for vocal conditioning of singers: a scoping review

To map and characterize intervention strategies for the vocal conditioning of singers without vocal complaints.

Scoping review based on the question: How are the intervention strategies used for vocal conditioning of singers characterized? Searches were conducted in the following sources: LILACS, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Google Scholar, medRxiv, ProQuest, Journal of Singing, and the Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.

Studies with vocal or respiratory training of singers without vocal complaints, of any musical genre, over 18 years of age, were included. Studies with children, other voice professionals, participants with laryngeal and vocal alterations, voice rehabilitation, exclusively indirect approach or those that did not focus on vocal conditioning were excluded.

The results were summarized in tables and charts.

A total of 12,358 studies were identified, eight of which met the eligibility criteria. The approaches focused on respiratory muscle strength and Semi-occluded Vocal Tract Exercises stood out. The number of repetitions together with monitoring of the total execution time was the most used. The duration of the interventions ranged from three weeks to six months and most of the training programs were conducted by speech-language pathologists and professionals from other areas. There was a predominance of self-assessments, with mostly positive results.

Variability was found in the intervention strategies used. The focus on simultaneous work between breathing and voice stood out, with respiratory muscle strength and Semi-occluded Vocal Tract exercises being the most used techniques.