Vocal fatigue is a frequent symptom and a debilitating condition affecting individuals with voice disorders. In spite of the various attempts to define and quantify vocal fatigue, this complex trait has not been well understood. Mokken scaling was performed on the Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI) to develop a hierarchical understanding of the latent trait of vocal fatigue. Two hundred nine patients with voice disorders completed the VFI and provided the item responses necessary to complete the Mokken scaling. Results revealed a moderately strong Mokken scale and that the VFI presents a hierarchical structure to the underlying trait of vocal fatigue. Mokken scaling contributes to the ongoing investigation to the underlying construct of vocal fatigue and may provide additional information about specific complaints within the population of those with voice disorders.

The intent of this thesis is to study a variety of vocal techniques and identify how to solve different vocal challenges in the musical theatre song, "The Girl in 14G." In order to be successful in the entertainment business, it is imperative that a singer performs healthily and in a variety of music styles. Through an exploration of Lessac Kinesensic Training, Estill Voice Training Systems and Bel Canto techniques, a singer can gain a holistic perspective about voice. I will study with three voice teachers, each of whom specializes in one of the aforementioned techniques. This thesis will reveal how each voice teacher brought her expertise to the lesson. It is a singer’s responsibility to ensure she is well rounded and knowledgeable about her voice, and the different approaches to teaching voice. Solutions that reflect different techniques will be analyzed. Observations and discoveries made in private voice lessons will also be described. Documentation of lessons with each teacher will provide insight about the distinctions and similarities in vocal techniques. This thesis is intended to serve as a starting point for students and teachers to satisfy their own vocal curiosity and exploration.

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COMPARATIVE STUDY OF VOCAL TECHNIQUE AMONG 21ST CENTURY SPANISH SINGING PROFESSIONALS Abstract The main goal of this doctoral thesis is to gather the current conceptual proposals about the technique of lyric singing, based on an analysis of the opinions of active Spanish professionals and on the main theories about vocal teaching published on the 20th and 21st centuries. The thesis develops a literature search in Chapter I and a field search through questionnaires in Chapter II. The following subjects are exposed: 1) the different current perspectives that exist around the idea of "vocal technique", 2) a comparative study between the opinions and theories held by singing professionals that have contributed to this study, and 3) a guide about the current lyric practice that can be useful to students, teachers and singers. / ESTUDIO COMPARATIVO DE LA TÉCNICA VOCAL ENTRE LOS PROFESIONALES ESPAÑOLES DEL CANTO DEL SIGLO XXI Resumen El objetivo principal de esta Tesis Doctoral es aunar y presentar las actuales propuestas conceptuales sobre la técnica vocal del canto lírico, tomando como base el análisis de las opiniones de los profesionales españoles en ejercicio y las principales teorías sobre pedagogía vocal publicadas en los siglos XX y XXI. A partir de los resultados obtenidos con una investigación bibliográfica en el capítulo I y una investigación de campo mediante cuestionarios en el capítulo II, expongo: 1) las diferentes perspectivas actuales que existen sobre un mismo concepto de técnica vocal¿ 2) un estudio comparativo entre las opiniones y teorías expuestas por los profesionales del canto que han colaborado en el presente estudio ¿ y 3) una guía útil y realista sobre la práctica lírica actual para estudiantes, docentes y cantantes. / ESTUDI COMPARATIU DE LA TÈCNICA VOCAL ENTRE ELS PROFESSIONALS ESPANYOLS DEL CANT DEL SEGLE XXI Resum L'objectiu principal d'aquesta Tesi Doctoral és conjuminar i presentar les actuals propostes conceptuals sobre la tècnica vocal del cant líric, prenent com a base l'anàlisi de les opinions dels professionals espanyols en exercici i les principals teories sobre pedagogia vocal publicades en els segles XX i XXI. A partir dels resultats obtinguts amb una recerca bibliogràfica en el capítol I i una recerca de camp mitjançant qüestionaris en el capítol II, expose:1) les diferents perspectives actuals que existeixen sobre un mateix concepte de tècnica vocal, 2) un estudi comparatiu entre les opinions i teories exposades pels professionals del cant que han col·laborat en el present estudi i 3) una guia útil i realista sobre la pràctica lírica actual per a estudiants, docents i cantants. / Llorens Puig, PM. (2017). Estudio comparativo de la técnica vocal entre los profesionales españoles del canto del siglo XXI [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/86196

The purpose of this study was researching how video feedback could be a resourceful aid when helping teenagers reflect upon their own vocal learning in the singing education. My research involved students aged fifteen and it was performed at (eller in? kanske kolla upp?) a middle school somewhere in Sweden. The investigation included four participants, which all had different experience in vocal performance. The main focus in this survey was on the individual aspects of performance, and I therefore excluded group- and ensemble play. My role in the research, was to observe the participants and their reflections about feedback by using video in order to develop musical knowledge. The result of the study showed that the participants had great use of video feedback as a tool for self-assessment. They also reflected and described their own teaching process with great musical vocabulary such as vocal pitch, dynamic, accent and personal expression. The students managed to do both critical and positive reflections on their vocal performance and all at a very high standard.

<p>Mutations of the FOXP2 gene impair speech and language development in humans and shRNA-mediated suppression of the avian orthologue FoxP2 disrupts song learning in juvenile zebra finches. How diminished FoxP2 levels affect vocal control and alter the function of neural circuits important to learned vocalizations remains unclear. Using a combination of behavioral analysis, in vivo intracellular recordings in anaesthetized birds, pharmacology and extracellular recordings in singing birds, I addressed how FoxP2 knockdown in songbird striatum affects vocal control and signal propagation through circuits important for the control of learned vocalizations. In summary, I found that FoxP2 knockdown in the songbird striatum disrupts developmental and social modulation of song variability. Recordings in anaesthetized birds show that FoxP2 knockdown interferes with D1R-dependent modulation of activity propagation in a corticostriatal pathway important to song variability, an effect that may be partly attributable to reduced D1R and DARPP-32 protein levels. Furthermore, recordings in singing birds reveal that FoxP2 knockdown prevents social modulation of singing-related activity in this pathway. These findings show that reduced FoxP2 levels interfere with the dopaminergic modulation of vocal variability, which may impede song and speech development by disrupting reinforcement learning mechanisms.</p> / Dissertation

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Education / Master / Master of Philosophy

The purpose of this treatise is to investigate the efficacy of vocal warm-ups/vocalises and their role in teaching vocal technique and health for the solo singer. In addition, it will provide a brief history of vocalises and methods of the “Bel Canto” era. Current literature addresses warm-ups for choral ensembles and choral singers. It does not adequately address solo/individual warm-ups and their impact on vocal technique, health and performances. Laryngologists and voice professionals were interviewed to better understand the role of vocalises in the study of voice and professional performance. These interviews were conducted in person, by telephone and via electronic mail correspondence. Voice teachers and singers were surveyed on their current vocal warm-up practices both in the voice studio and in performance. Surveys are to be administered in three ways: 1) hard copy surveys delivered at the National Association of Teachers of Singing National Conference 2008; 2) selected nationally known teachers and singers received via ground mail a copy of the survey; 3) an online survey. This study was directed to obtain answers to the following questions: 1) Is there a standard methodology for vocal warm-ups?; 2) If so, how has this methodology evolved over time?; 3) What is the current use of vocal warm-ups and vocalises by voice instructors and professional voice users?; 4) How does the use of vocal warm-ups and vocalises influence the effectiveness of vocal performance?; 5) Does the use of vocal warm-ups or vocalises contribute to the health of the singer, thus resulting in an excellent vocal performance?; 6) Does practicing vocal warm-ups or vocalises have a positive effect on overall vocal health? This study aims to broaden the current understanding of vocalises and their impact on the teaching and performing of classical voice. / text

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess whether the factors historically presented in the literature to differentiate vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) from breathing difficulties of other etiologies accurately predict and identify patients who have VCD. The researchers were also interested in whether patients with VCD have a higher risk of misdiagnosis than patients with breathing difficulties of other etiologies. Finally, the present study investigated whether patients with VCD were more likely to have their symptoms attributed to psychological factors than patients with breathing difficulties of other etiologies. Method: A survey comprised of 23 questions regarding the participants’ previous and current diagnoses, triggers that precede breathing difficulty, and whether or not the participants have ever been misdiagnosed was posted to internet support groups, websites, blogs, and forums. The final participant pool included 20 participants with VCD and 25 participants with asthma. Results: None of the factors investigated accurately differentiated participants with asthma from participants with VCD one hundred percent of the time. However, participants with VCD were more likely to report throat tightness during an attack, association of an attack with symptoms of acid reflux, and rapid resolution of symptoms without treatment. Conversely, participants with asthma were more likely to report expiratory stridor and chest tightness, full resolution of symptoms with use of asthma medications, nocturnal symptoms or symptoms just after waking, and symptoms that seemed to be triggered by environmental agents or allergens. Preliminary findings from the present study suggest that patients with VCD are both more likely to receive a misdiagnosis and have their symptoms attributed to psychological factors than participants with asthma. Conclusion: A diagnosis of VCD must be made very carefully, ideally with instrumental evaluation of the vocal mechanism during an acute “attack” of breathing difficulty. The factors identified in the literature to differentially diagnose patients with asthma from patients with VCD do not accurately differentiate these populations. These findings suggest that continued education about the nature of VCD and differential diagnosis should be paramount to medical professionals. / text

The kea is the only parrot species in the world to include the true alpine environment as part of their habitat. Survival in these harsh alpine conditions has been hypothesised to be the cause of the generalist behaviour of kea, leading to their heightened explorative behaviour and curiosity. Kea are also widely regarded as being extraordinarily intelligent. It is their intelligence that suggests that kea may possess a sophisticated communication system. I conducted a study exploring the potentially complex vocal repertoire of the kea. My study was conducted with wild population of banded juvenile and fledgling kea in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park between February 2003 and April 2004. I obtained 449 vocalisations from 16 identified and several unidentified kea. The results of this study confirmed that the vocal repertoire of the kea is exceptionally large for a parrot species, encompassing over 17 vocalisations. This study revealed five vocalisations previously undescribed in the kea repertoire and showed for the first time that vocal repertoire of immature kea may be different to the repertoire of adult kea. Two possible gender specific vocalisations were also revealed. The study of apparent vocal responses revealed that kea appear to be able to identify vocalisation types and respond accordingly using combinations of increasingly complex vocalisations. This is also the first study to take advantage of the similarity between human and parrot vocal systems for the kea, by utilizing powerful human speech analysis software. The results of this analysis allowed the identification of subtle differences in kea vocalisations, including the presence of graded signals, not identifiable by use of spectrogram analysis.