Numerous studies exist examining the link in solo singers between timbre and overtone spectra. The purpose of this study is to examine if similar results can be obtained by applying the same techniques to choral singing. The study is aimed at non-scientific readers and therefore introduces the subject with background to the relevant physics. In this study a number of recorded samples of choirs were taken from www.youtube.com and analyzed. The analysis included computation of long-term average spectra (LTAS) and singing power ratio‟s (SPR), which provided an indication of the relative energy in the higher overtone region of every choir. This was compared to a binary value judgment of the choirs. The results indicate that the SPR as applied to soloists cannot be directly applied to choirs. A link between SPR and a perceived “good” choral tone could exist but would have to be interpreted differently than in the case of soloists. It was also found that a possible link could exist between frequency peaks in LTAS and a choir‟s intonation.

The predominant purpose of the study was to investigate whether or not there is a relationship between singing intonation and string playing intonation among college level and professional string players in Northern California. For the purpose of this study a convenient sampling method was used to recruit participants according to their availability. Thirty college-level and professional string players from the Bay Area participated in this study (n=30). For the purpose of this study, only violin, viola and cello players have been included. The investigative variables for the study are singing intonation and string playing intonation. Intonation has been assessed. through participants' singing and playing. A computer program, called Melodyne, was used to analyze the recorded performances of the participants and determine the magnitude and direction of deviation for both played and sung pitches. The study included a 15 minute individual task after which subjects' intonation has been assessed in two dimensions: string performance intonation and singing performance intonation~ The participants were assigned an eight-measure singing excerpt adapted from the National Anthem of the United States of America, as well as another eight-measure excerpt designed specifically to assess string performance intonation. The subjects were individually audio-recorded and the audio files were analyzed using Melodyne to determine whether or not there is a relationship between singing intonation and string playing intonation. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient has been calculated to determine the degree of relationship between singing intonation and string playing intonation of the participants.

Mental imagery is a common theme in research that clarifies how musical thought relates to musical performance. Unfortunately, minimal information exists regarding mental imagery and singers. The purpose of this study was to probe the role, if any, mental imagery plays in the conceptualization of pitch and vowel. By interviewing singers at differing levels of expertise, basic information was obtained about the mental processes used by singers. Through evaluations of the singers' mental processes, it was concluded that 95% of the singers in the study employed mental imagery. All singers described using kinesthetic imagery, while the majority implemented sensory and auditory imagery. Viso-spatial imagery was implemented among the more experienced singers. The majority of singers also reported: imaging pitch and vowel interactively; imaging from an internal perspective; and utilizing mental rehearsal. Less than half of the singers described using methods other than mental imagery to conceptualize pitch and vowel.