RECENT RESEARCH IN SINGING

Donald Simonson

T
HE FOLLOWING LIST OF RECENT RESEARCH in Singing is a brief
sampling of articles from the Journal of Voice. The Journal of
Voice is a peer reviewed publication and is considered the world's
premiere source for voice medicine and research. It is edited by
Journal of Singing Associate Editor Robert T. Sataioff. This listing is by no
means comprehensive and reflects only a small fraction ofthe available and
applicable articles.
If you have published recent research in singing, voice pedagogy, voice sci-
Donald Simonson
ence, vocal repertoire, pedagogic methodology, or other topics of interest to the
membership of NATS, please send citations and abstracts to Donald Simonson
at drs@iastate.edu for review and possible inclusion in future columns.
Barnes-Burroughs, Kathryn, and Michael C. Rodriguez. "The
Teaching Performer: A Survey of Assets Versus Choices in Voice
Use." Journal of Voice 26, no. 5 (September 2012): 642-655.
Seven hundred twenty-seven singing voice teachers, self-identified as active
performers, were surveyed to investigate their voice hygiene and voice use
practices during periods of performance activity. The readiness of these indi-
viduals to consider changes in their voice hygiene routines was also assessed.
In general, the survey showed that many "Teaching Performers" tend to
reserve their voice use during teaching. Even more of them reserved their voice
use during periods of performance activity. During periods of performance
activity, speaking and singing voice use, hydration, sleep, diet, exercise, and
stress reduction were shown to be of greater importance than during their
preparation for teaching activity. Those who perform more often feel more
successful in balancing their vocal demands. Additional studies should be
conducted and the creation of an educational platform should be undertaken
for preparing the Teaching Performer to address the unique hygienic needs
of a simultaneous professional teaching and performing career.
Cassiraga, Verónica L., Andrea V. Casteilano, José Abasólo, -
Ester N. Abin, and Gustavo H. Izbizky. "Pregnancy and Voice:
Changes During the Third Trimester." Journal of Voice 26, no. 5
(September 2012): 584-586.
Fundamental frequency, maximum phonation time, vocal intensity, perturba-
tion rates, and physical acoustic qualities of women during the third trimester
of pregnancy were analyzed and compared. Most exhibited a predominance
of clavicular breathing, reduced phonation time, and a higher incidence of
gastroesophageal reflux. Most also exhibited abnormal parameters of audi-
tory perceptual evaluation.

Echternach, Matthias, and Bernhard Richter. "Passaggio in the

Journal of Singing, January/February 2013
Volume 69, No. 3, pp. 367-368
Copyright © 2013
National Association of Teachers of Singing
Professional Tenor Voice—Evaluation of Perturbation Measures."
Journal of Voice 26, no. 4 (July 2012): 440-446.
Eight singer/subjects were asked to perform ascending and descending
register transitions from 220-440 Hz on [a, e, i, o, u, ae]. Acoustic and EGG

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013 367

Donald Simonson
measurements sHowed greater frequency perturbation
during ascending tasks.
Erickson, Molly L. "Can Listeners Hear Who is
Singing? What is the Pitch Bandwidth of Singer
Discrimination in Untrained Listeners?"
Journal of Voice 26, no. 3 (May 2012): 322-329.
THe ability to discriminate between singers of different
voice classifications (e.g., sopranos and tenors) dimin-
isHed as pitcH difference increased. By tHe intervals of
tHe 9tH and lltH, tHe ability dropped below cHance level.
Between singers of tHe same category, it was mucH more
difficult to discriminate between individuals across
pitcH, especially in female voices.
Lévéque, Johana, Antoine Giovanni, and Daniele
Schön. "Pitch-Matching in Poor Singers: Human
Model Advantage." Journal of Voice 26, no. 3
(May 2012): 293-298.
EigHteen poor singers were presented witH Human and
syntHetic pitcH matcHing models. Results sHowed tHat
tHe Human pitcH matcHing model was a significant aid
to successful imitation.
Martins Baptista La, Filipa, and Johan Sundberg.
"Pregnancy and the Singing Voice: Reports From
a Case Study." Journal of Voice 26, no. 4 (July
2012): 431-439.
Acoustic, airflow, air pressure, and EGG measure-
ments along witH female steroid Hormone levels were
analyzed 12 weeks prior to delivery, 48 Hours following
delivery, and for tHe next 11 weeks. As expected, tHe
results sHowed reduced vocal fold motility and increased
glottal adduction during tHe later stages of pregnancy.
Perceptual decreases of vocal brigHtness were also noted.
Sataloff, Robert L., Mary J. Hawkshaw, Jennifer
L. Johnson, Brienne Ruel, Allen Wilhelm, and
Deborah Lurie. "Prevalence of Abnormal Findings
in Healthy Singing Teachers." Journal of Voice 26,
no. 5 (September 2012): 577-583.
ResearcH conducted at a NATS Conference examined 72
voice teacHers wHo Had no significant voice complaints.
Strobovideolaryngoscopy examination found 86.1% of
the subject exHibited one or more abnormalities. Most
abnormalities were associated witH laryngopHaryngeal
reflux (LPR). OtHer abnormalities included prominent
368
varicosities and ectasis, incomplete glottal closure, and
structural abnormalities. Acoustic analysis of tHe female
subjects also sHowed significant deviations from norms
witH respect to sHimmer, relative average perturbation
and maximum fundamental frequency. In conclusion,
laryngeal abnormalities often occur in patients witH no
symptoms. Baseline examinations of HealtHy singers
sHould become common practice to establisH individual
normal conditions.
Sofranko, Jessica L., and Robert A. Prosek.
"The Effect of Experience on Classification of
Voice Quality." Journal of Voice 26, no. 3
(May 2012): 299-303.
THree groups of listeners (speecH-language patHologists,
singing voice teacHers, and inexperienced listeners) were
asked to classify voice samples as normal, breatby, or
rougH. SpeecH-language pathologists sHowed tHe Highest
interrater agreement. Voice teacHers sHowed a moder-
ate interrater agreement, wHile inexperienced listeners
sHowed a fair interrater agreement.
Sundberg, Johan, Lide Gu, Qiang Huang, and
Ping Huang. "Acoustical Study of Classical Peking
Opera Singing." Journal of Voice 26, no. 2 (March
2012): 137-143.
Sound pressure level, fundamental frequency, and
spectrum cHaracteristics of Peking Opera Singers botH
wHen speaking and singing were analyzed. A number of
acoustic differencesfi-omWestern operatic tradition were
noted. Vibrato rates averaged 3.5 Hz. Vibrato free tones
sHowed unbroken series of Harmonics sometimes reacH-
ing to 17 KHz. Unlike tHe Western operatic tradition,
long-term-average-spectrum (LTAS) of Classical Peking
Opera singing sHowed no sign of tHe singer's formant.
Watson, Alan H. D., Caitlin Williams, and Buddug
V. James. "Activity Patterns in Latissimus Dorsi
and Sternocleidomastoid in Classical Singers."
Journal of Voice 26, no. 3 (May 2012): e95-e105.
THe latissimus dorsi (LD) appears to be significant in
maintaining cHest expansion during supported singing.
During sHort pHrases typical at tHe ends or arias and
sung at full volume botH LD and sternocleidomastoid
(SCM) were active. In some singers LD, and more rarely
SCM, activity fluctuated witH tHe vibrato.
JOURNAL OF SINGING
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