Thesis (doctoral)--Universität zu Köln, 1980. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 210-218).

Thesis--Princeton. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 253-256).

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Alberta, 2009. / Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on Dec. 14, 2009). "A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta." Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (D. Mus. Arts)--University of Washington, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-54).

Accuracy in pitch production is fundamental to both singing and language. Since accurate control of pitch is a complicated motor control process, no conclusions can be drawn yet for the reasons why some individuals have trouble producing accurate pitches in singing, although different possible causes have been proposed in the literature such as deficits in pitch perception, pitch memory and mismatch of pitch range. Additionally, since auditory feedback plays a crucial role in the pitch control, some behavioral experiments have been conducted in the literature that involve manipulation of auditory feedback so as to remedy those with inaccurate pitch during singing but the effects varied. However, those studies in the literature had various limitations and mostly recruited participants who were speakers of non-tonal languages. The present study investigated the effect of augmented auditory feedback (AAF) as a method of feedback manipulation on pitch accuracy as well as its relationship with the three possible causes for pitch inaccuracy mentioned above. A total of 43 tonal-language-speaking adult participants who had no formal training of singing were recruited to participant in two tasks to measure their pitch accuracy: single-tone pitch matching and singing a familiar song. All participants were native speakers of tonal languages: Mandarin or Cantonese. The results showed that pitch accuracy was not significantly improved by AAF although moderately inaccurate singers seemed to benefit consistently in pitch matching task. The post-hoc analysis revealed that the intertrial consistency of the singer’s performance was significantly improved for inaccurate singers in both tasks. As for the causes for pitch inaccuracy, both pitch perception and pitch memory were found to have moderate correlation with pitch inaccuracy while mismatch of vocal range of the participants and the pitch targets seemed to be a major cause for most of the inaccurate participants. / published_or_final_version / Speech and Hearing Sciences / Master / Master of Philosophy

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the ability to perceive pitch direction across a variety of melodic contours differs across grade levels. In addition, differences between responses to ascending versus descending patterns and between responses to two- versus three- versus four-note patterns were examined. / The main study involved two experiments; Experiment 1 examined children's ability to identify pitch direction using a visual aid; Experiment 2 examined children's spontaneous notations of the same melodic contours. / The results showed a subsequent increase in mean scores from grades 1 to 6 across both tests. The clearest increase in ability occurred within the first three grades with a plateau reached by grade four. Same-pitch patterns received the highest overall means. The ability to identify direction using a visual aid was easier for children than to write spontaneous notations. Melodic contours with larger intervals were more easily perceived.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of three different vocal timbres on uncertain singers' ability to match and discriminate pitches. Fifty-six children between six and eight year old were randomly assigned to one of four groups. / In the Own Voices group, subjects were training in pitch matching using subjects' own voices. They trained in pitch discrimination using a model child voice as stimuli. In the Model Child group, subjects were training in pitch matching and pitch discrimination using a model child voice of the same sex and age as that of the subject. Subjects in the Female Adult group were training in pitch matching and pitch discrimination using a female adult voice as stimuli. Subjects in the control group had no training. / It was found that timbre affected uncertain singers' ability to match and discriminate pitches. Pitch matching to one's own voice was more accurate than pitch matching to a child's voice. / The discrimination of high and low pitches was more accurate when a model child's voice was used than when an adult voice was used.

No description available.

Precise pitch is important to musicians. We created algorithms for real-time pitch detection that generalise well over a range of single �voiced� musical instruments. A high pitch detection accuracy is achieved whilst maintaining a fast response using a special normalisation of the autocorrelation (SNAC) function and its windowed version, WSNAC. Incremental versions of these functions provide pitch values updated at every input sample. A robust octave detection is achieved through a modified cepstrum, utilising properties of human pitch perception and putting the pitch of the current frame within the context of its full note duration. The algorithms have been tested thoroughly both with synthetic waveforms and sounds from real instruments. A method for detecting note changes using only pitch is also presented. Furthermore, we describe a real-time method to determine vibrato parameters - higher level information of pitch variations, including the envelopes of vibrato speed, height, phase and centre offset. Some novel ways of visualising the pitch and vibrato information are presented. Our project �Tartini� provides music students, teachers, performers and researchers with new visual tools to help them learn their art, refine their technique and advance their fields.