Perceptions of the Voice-Change Process: Male Adult versus Adolescent Musicians and Nonmusicians

1997 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 521-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janice N. Killian

To examine the changing-voice process, 141 males were interviewed regarding their voice change. Subjects included changing-voice boys (both singers and nonsingers) and men (both singers and nonsingers during time of voice change). Audiotaped interviews were scripted and verbal content analyzed. Results included the following: Boys remembered significantly more about their voice changes than did men. Singers remembered more than nonsingers. Significantly more singers than nonsingers noticed their voice change themselves and indicated that it affected both their singing and speaking. Five of every six interviewees regarded his voice change as a positive experience, but eight times more negative than positive comments were made. Vocabulary was limited to few words and was similar across all groups. Boys used “crack” and men used “break” to describe the sensation; few used musical terminology. Results are discussed in terms of teacher preparation for those working with adolescent boys.

Author(s):  
Bridget Sweet

The chapter describes how an understanding of the way the voice operates can empower both female and male adolescent singers as well as the teachers assisting them through the voice change process. It unpacks basic vocal anatomy and physiology, and then overlays physiological transformations that occur in the larynx during female and male voice change. A special section addresses the impact of hormones on the adolescent voice (especially for females) and promotes awareness of premenstrual vocal syndrome. The chapter encourages music educators to frequently discuss and reference vocal anatomy and physiology with adolescent singers in order to demystify vocal challenges and dispel myths and misunderstandings about how the voice and body function.


Author(s):  
Bridget Sweet

Thinking Outside the Voice Box: Adolescent Voice Change in Music Education is different from other books on voice change in that it encourages new and holistic ways of thinking about the female and male adolescent changing voice. It gives choral music educators (or anyone interested in the changing voice) the opportunity to step away from typical considerations of voice change and explore the experience within the bigger picture of adolescence. Female and male adolescent voice change are addressed at length, but special efforts have been made to bring new attention to female voice change to boost considerations of females in choral music education. Holistic considerations encompass the importance of understanding physical development during adolescence, including the body, brain, and auditory system; vocal anatomy and physiology in general, as well as during male and female voice change; the impact of hormones on the adolescent voice, especially for female singers; ideas of resolve and perseverance that are essential to adolescent navigation of voice change; and exploration of portrayals of voice change that have contributed to a situated reality not based in fact, but accepted in pop culture. Choral educators are also given a larger scope of voice classification systems and other foundational ideas in choral music education through examination of some of the most eminent works in the profession. Emerging considerations of adolescent voice change beyond classification systems provide new food for thought about working with the adolescent changing voice.


Author(s):  
Ryan Austin Fisher ◽  
Nancy L. Summitt ◽  
Ellen B. Koziel

The purpose of this study was to describe the voice change and voice part assignment of male middle school choir members. Volunteers ( N = 92) were recruited from three public middle school choral programs (Grades 6-8). Participants were audio-recorded performing simple vocal tasks in order to assess vocal range and asked to share the music they were currently singing in class. Results revealed 23.91% of participants’ voices could be categorized as unchanged, 14.13% as Stage 1, 3.26% as Stage 2, 10.87% as Stage 3, 26.09% as Stage 4, and 21.74% as Stage 5. The majority of sixth-grade participants were classified as unchanged or in Stage 1 of the voice change and the majority of eighth-grade participants were classified in Stages 4 to 5 of the voice change. Of the participants labeled “tenors” in their choir, over 60% were classified as either unchanged voices or in Stage 1 of the voice change.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 75-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Murry ◽  
Claudio F. Milstein

This review describes the current information related to laryngeal neuropathic disorders and the possible management options available. Voice changes may range from severe hoarseness due to choking and coughing to a mild intermittent dysphonia possibly accompanied by unusual breathing. Neither the sound of the voice nor the lack of hoarseness should suggest that the problem itself is a minor one. Laryngeal neuropathic disorders may be the outcome of inflammation, irritation, infection, or a combination of these that causes a disruption in normal sensation. When sensory mediators no longer function normally, breathing, phonation, and even swallowing changes may be affected. Clinicians must be aware of the numerous sensory related disorders in the upper airway and currently accepted methods of treatment.


2003 ◽  
Vol 112 (9) ◽  
pp. 759-763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgio Peretti ◽  
Maria C. Mensi ◽  
Cesare Piazza ◽  
Manuela Rossini ◽  
Cristiano Balzanelli ◽  
...  

Radiotherapy contends with endoscopic surgery for the role of treatment of choice for Tis-T1 glottic cancer. The amount of vocal cord to be surgically removed logically depends on the surface and deep extension of the neoplasm. Thus, a prerequisite for proper management includes an analysis of the voice changes after each of the progressive types of cordectomy described in the European Laryngological Society Classification. Between January 1998 and December 2000, 89 patients with glottic cancer (8 Tis, 63 T1a, 18 T1b) underwent different types of endoscopic cordectomy. Perceptual analysis (GRBAS scale); objective analyses of jitter, shimmer, and noise-to-harmonics ratio; and subjective (Voice Handicap Index) evaluation of voice were performed in 51 patients. Statistical evaluation of preoperative and postoperative objective results by analysis of covariance, as well as perceptual and subjective data, showed significant voice improvement after type I and II cordectomies, with the voice attaining nearly normal parameters. By contrast, after type III, IV, and V cordectomies, the vocal outcome was not significantly different from the preoperative pattern. It can therefore be concluded that type I and II resections, whenever indicated, are adequate procedures even for professional voice users. By contrast, accurate counseling is mandatory before type III, IV, and V cordectomies.


1999 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 357-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janice Killian

The present study was designed to explore the idea that boys' voices may be changing earlier than indicated in previous research. Singing and speaking voices of fifth-grade (h = 56) and sixth-grade (h = 43) boys were categorized and compared with the Cooksey changing voice stages. Data consisted of grade in school, age in years, highest and lowest sung pitches, overall singing range, speaking pitches, and voice stage categorization. Results indicated an earlier voice change than in previous research. Findings consistent with previous research included the fact that singing and speaking pitch lowered with each successive voice-change stage, the overall range narrowed in the predicted stages, and the speaking pitch remained 2-3 semitones above lowest sung pitch, regardless of voice stage.


2007 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 32-34
Author(s):  
Julie A. Skadsem
Keyword(s):  

2010 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janice N. Killian ◽  
John B. Wayman

This descriptive study was designed to examine middle school adolescent boys’ singing voices ( N = 104) comprising volunteers enrolled in band ( n = 72) or choir ( n = 32). The authors sought to confirm possible earlier voice change, to compare vocal characteristics among frequent (choir) and infrequent (band) singers, and to determine use of falsetto during each voice stage. To assess falsetto, the authors had participants view and then imitate a segment of Shrek, in which characters speak in falsetto and bass. Students then spoke a line at high, medium, and low pitches. They then self-selected their highest and lowest singing pitches, sustaining them as long as possible. Following Cooksey procedures, the authors identified the boys’ speaking pitch and guided them to their highest and lowest pitches. Data consisted of demographic information; changing voice stages; high, medium, and low speaking contrasts; highest and lowest sung pitches (both self-selected and instructor-guided); number of seconds pitches were held; presence/absence of falsetto singing; and Likert-type responses to “Like singing?” and “Sing well?” Results confirmed that boys’ voices continue to change at an early age and can be divided reliably into predictable developmental stages and that speaking voices were 3 to 4 semitones above lowest sung pitches. Predictable identification of falsetto appeared elusive.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 145-146
Author(s):  
J Fruitman ◽  
C H Parker ◽  
L W Liu

Abstract Background Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is often implicated as a potential etiology for various oropharyngeal (OP) symptoms. Although ambulatory reflux monitoring has been recommended by professional societies for the assessment of OP symptoms, it is unclear if objective measures of acid exposure in the esophagus correlate with the presence of these OP symptoms. Aims The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of abnormal 24-hour pH monitoring in patients presenting with various OP symptoms in our motility unit. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients referred for 24-hour pH monitoring for the evaluation of OP symptoms to the open-access Clinical Motility Unit at the University Health Network between January 1, 2008 and June 1, 2019. Seven symptom categories were examined including cough, globus, throat discomfort, voice change, dental erosion, altered taste, and sensation of phlegm in the throat. The results of the 24-hour pH monitoring were collected. A test was considered abnormal if while off anti-secretory therapy the overall acid exposure (pH < 4) in the distal esophagus was greater than 4.2% of the total time or if while on anti-secretory therapy the overall acid exposure in the esophagus was greater than 1.2% of the time. Descriptive statistics were performed to analyze the data. Results 384 patients were included in the final analysis. 167 patients (43.5%) presented with cough, 63 (16.4%) with globus, 86 (22.4%) with throat discomfort, 19 (5.9%) with voice changes, 13 (3.4%) with dental erosion, 17 (4.4%) with altered taste and 19 (4.9%) with sensation of phlegm in the throat. Overall, 19.5% of patients presenting with oropharyngeal symptoms had abnormal 24-hour pH monitoring. Abnormal 24-hr pH monitoring was present in 24.6% of those with cough, 15.9% of those with globus, 16.3% of those with throat discomfort, 21.1% of those with voice changes, 23.1% of those with dental erosion, 5.9% of those with altered taste and 10.5% of those with sensation of phlegm in the throat. Conclusions This study demonstrates that only a small proportion of patients with OP symptoms have abnormal gastroesophageal acid reflux based on objective 24-hour pH monitoring. Given these findings, future studies to examine the factors that predict having abnormal 24-hour pH monitoring in patients presenting with OP symptoms will help guide resource management of motility testing to determine which patients would benefit most from this type of evaluation. Funding Agencies None


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