Master of Applied Science / The aim of this investigation was to investigate the effects of computer-based visual feedback in the teaching of singing. Pitch accuracy, a readily-measured parameter of the singing voice, was used in this study to gauge changes in singing for groups with and without visual feedback. The study investigated whether the style of feedback affects the amount of learning achieved, and whether the provision of concurrent visual feedback hampers the simultaneous performance of the singing task. The investigation used a baseline–intervention–post-test between-groups design. Participants of all skill levels were randomly assigned to a control group or one of two experimental groups – with all participants given one hour of singing training. At intervention, the two experimental groups were offered one of two different displays of real-time visual feedback on their vocal pitch accuracy, while control participants had a non-interactive display. All sessions were recorded, and the vocal exercise patterns performed at baseline, intervention and post-test phases were acoustically analysed for pitch accuracy. Questionnaires assessed both general health and the amount of singing and music training of all participants; people in the two experimental groups were also given a further questionnaire about the visual feedback. The results indicate that visual feedback improves pitch accuracy in singing. Cognitive load related to the decoding of visual information was a factor at intervention. At post-test, the two groups who had used real-time visual feedback demonstrated marked improvement on their initial pitch accuracy. There was no significant difference between the results of participants from the two experimental groups, although the participants with some background in singing training showed greater improvement using a simpler visual feedback design. The findings suggest that a hybrid approach integrating standard singing teaching practices with real-time visual feedback of aspects of the singing voice may improve learning.

Master of Applied Science / The aim of this investigation was to investigate the effects of computer-based visual feedback in the teaching of singing. Pitch accuracy, a readily-measured parameter of the singing voice, was used in this study to gauge changes in singing for groups with and without visual feedback. The study investigated whether the style of feedback affects the amount of learning achieved, and whether the provision of concurrent visual feedback hampers the simultaneous performance of the singing task. The investigation used a baseline–intervention–post-test between-groups design. Participants of all skill levels were randomly assigned to a control group or one of two experimental groups – with all participants given one hour of singing training. At intervention, the two experimental groups were offered one of two different displays of real-time visual feedback on their vocal pitch accuracy, while control participants had a non-interactive display. All sessions were recorded, and the vocal exercise patterns performed at baseline, intervention and post-test phases were acoustically analysed for pitch accuracy. Questionnaires assessed both general health and the amount of singing and music training of all participants; people in the two experimental groups were also given a further questionnaire about the visual feedback. The results indicate that visual feedback improves pitch accuracy in singing. Cognitive load related to the decoding of visual information was a factor at intervention. At post-test, the two groups who had used real-time visual feedback demonstrated marked improvement on their initial pitch accuracy. There was no significant difference between the results of participants from the two experimental groups, although the participants with some background in singing training showed greater improvement using a simpler visual feedback design. The findings suggest that a hybrid approach integrating standard singing teaching practices with real-time visual feedback of aspects of the singing voice may improve learning.

Orientador: Regina Helena Garcia Martins / Resumo: Objetivo: Verificar as diferenças entre as características vocais clínicas, perceptivo-auditiva, acústica computadorizada e videolaringoscópica de mulheres obesas, antes e após a cirurgia bariátrica. Casuística e métodos: Foram compostos dois grupos: grupo de obesas (GE), com 27 mulheres candidatas à cirurgia bariátrica, de acordo com os critérios: IMC superior a 40 kg/m2 ou IMC superior a 35 kg/m2 associado a comorbidades; e grupo controle (GC), com 27 mulheres, pareadas em faixa etária, com peso ideal para a estatura, estabelecido pelo IMC. Foram realizadas avaliações vocais: clínicas (levantamento de sintomas clínicos e vocais e hábitos vocais), autoavaliação vocal (questionários de índice de desvantagem vocal – IDV e qualidade de vida e voz – QVV), perceptivo-auditiva (escala GRBASI), acústica (software MDVP) e videolaringoscopia. Todos os participantes realizaram as mesmas avaliações, sendo que no GE o protocolo foi repetido em três momentos distintos: M1 (pré-operatório), M2 (pós-operatório – 6 meses) e M3 (pós-operatório − 12 meses). Resultados: No GE, o sintoma clínico mais evidente foi o refluxo gastroesofágico (RGE) e os sintomas vocais foram: rouquidão (25,9%), pigarro (18,5%) e cansaço ao falar (18,5%). Autoavaliação vocal: os dados dos questionários não se diferenciaram entre os grupos e também não apresentaram efeito de momento, no GE. Avaliação vocal acústica: os parâmetros vocais que mais se diferiram na voz do GE foram: f0, NHR e SPI. Esses parâmetros diminuí... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Objective: To verify the differences among the clinical vocal characteristics, perceptual-auditory, computerized acoustic and videolaryngoscopy of obese women before and after bariatric surgery. Methods Two groups were included: Obese group (SG), with 27 women candidates for bariatric surgery according to criteria: BMI> 40 kg / m2 or BMI> 35 kg / m2 associated with comorbidities and Control group (CG), with 27 women, matched in age, with ideal weight for height, established by BMI. Vocal assessments (clinical and vocal symptoms survey and vocal habits), vocal selfassessment (questionnaires of the vocal handicap index - quality of life and voice - QLV), perceptual-auditory (GRBASI scale), acoustic (MDVP software) and videolaryngoscopy were performed. All participants performed the same evaluations, and in the SG the protocol was repeated in three different moments: M1 (preoperative), M2 (postoperative - six months) and M3 (postoperative 12 months). Results: The most obvious clinical symptom in the SG was gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) and vocal symptoms were: hoarseness (25.9%), phlegm (18.5%) and fatigue (18.5%). Vocal selfassessment: questionnaire data were not differentiated between groups and did not present moment effects in different moments (in the SG). Acoustic vocal evaluation: the vocal parameters that differ most in the voices of the SG were: f0, NHR and SPI. These parameters decreased significantly in M2 and M3. Perceptual-auditory evaluation: There was improvement... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor