Steadiness of Singing Scales by Untrained Adult Females

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Steadiness of Singing Scales by Untrained Adult Females STEADINESS OF SINGING SCALES BY UNTRAINED ADULT FEMALES Michelle Mary Bretl A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate College of Bowling Green State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE May 2018 Committee: Ronald C. Scherer, Advisor Jason A.Whitfield © 2018 Michelle Bretl All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Ronald C. Scherer, Advisor As a singer, register transitions can be challenging to navigate. A singer must perceive where the transition is occurring and apply adjustments to smooth the transition. Within register transitions, one may experience various types of vocal instabilities. The primary aim of this research was to study the production mechanisms characterizing vocal instabilities in the untrained female singer. This was an exploratory study that included five untrained female singers who produced “normal” octave scales as well as scales as smoothly as they could. Simultaneous recordings of airflow, microphone, and EGG signals were analyzed. The scales were divided into three groups based on the perceptual consensus of level of smoothness. Unsteady scales contained aphonic segments, abrupt registration fluctuations, obvious intensity changes, and unexpected fundamental frequency (fo) variations. Subtler unsteady scales exhibited noticeable but “understated” quality changes, increased speed of fo changes or overshoots, and smaller yet evident intensity variations. The participants often produced perceivably smooth scales with minimal instability. Results suggest that untrained female singers are capable of producing perceptually smooth scales across register transitions. However, within some of these perceptually smooth scales, subtle changes and disturbances were noticed that result in the perception of minor instabilities. These subtleties are often seen more clearly within the airflow signal, EGG signal shifts, and fo rate of change than are aurally perceptible. For the unsteady scales, the more obvious instabilities were seen within nearly all measures, most notably in the airflow, fo, and intensity contours, and EGG waveform width and height. This study offers insights into a wider range of steadiness of vocal production where objective recordings reveal subtle changes that are difficult to hear. iv This thesis is dedicated to my voice teacher and mentor of 10 years, Dr. Kari Ragan. You believed in me when I was just a kid with big dreams but few plans. v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am extremely grateful to my advisor, Dr. Ronald Scherer, who has continuously supported my goals through his expertise, guidance, and patience. He always found time answer my questions, challenge my thinking, and encourage my creativity. This project would not be the same without his willingness to support my ideas and interests. I am very thankful to my parents, John and Teresa Bretl, who were my first teachers. They instilled in me both the joy and importance of continued education and critical thinking in a world with so many unanswered questions. Their commitment to becoming experts in their respective fields inspires me to aim high and never settle for the information I already know. My high school and undergraduate mentor, Dr. Kari Ragan, played an immense role in carving the path I have set out on, which would likely look very different without her guidance. She was always one of the first people to reinforce my changing interests and plans, and she never told me I couldn’t do it, even if it might be challenging. I was so lucky to have her as a mentor in such formative and crucial years. Finally, I am incredibly appreciative of my fiancé, Nick Picatti. He has filled so many different roles over the past year and a half, including my cheerleader, assistant, counselor, friend, and sounding board. But most importantly and consistently, he has been my partner and main source of support. From the beginning of this project, he has shown continued interest in what I am doing and learning, and continues to ask when he can read the finished product. We have not only survived the 2,000+ mile separation but have thrived both individually and as a unit. Thank you so much for your patience and willingness to let me be a little selfish. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………. 1 Vocal Register Definitions…………………………………………………………… 1 Register Transition Research………………………………………………………… 3 Vocal Instabilities……………………………………………………………………. 7 Current Study………………………………………………………………………… 9 CHAPTER II: METHODS………………………………………………………………….. 11 Subjects……………………………………………………………………………… 11 Instrumentation……………………………………………………………………… 12 Tasks………………………………………………………………………………… 13 Recording Procedures……………………………………………………………….. 14 Measures…………………………………………………………………………….. 15 Identifying instabilities………………………………………………………. 16 Statistical Design……………………………………………………………………. 17 Pilot Study…………………………………………………………………………… 18 CHAPTER III: RESULTS…………………………………………………………………… 21 Smooth Group……………………………………………………………………….. 21 Middle Group………………………………………………………………………… 34 Unsteady Group……………………………………………………………………… 43 CHAPTER IV: DISCUSSION……………………………………………………………… 61 CHAPTER V: CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS…………….. 64 CHAPTER VI: CONCLUSIONS…………………………………………………………… 66 vii REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………………… 67 APPENDIX A: EXPANDED INSTABILITIES TABLE…………………………………… 70 APPENDIX B: IRB APPROVAL…………………………………………………………… 78 viii LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1 FP1 Smooth Scale Contours ...................................................................................... 22 2 Trend-removed EGG signals in FP1 Smooth scale ................................................... 23 3 fo derivative over time for the FP1 Smooth scale. ..................................................... 25 4 fo derivative over frequency for the FP1 Smooth scale ............................................. 25 5 FP2 Smooth Scale 1 Contours ................................................................................... 26 6 fo derivative over time for the FP2 Smooth scale 1 ................................................... 28 7 fo derivative over frequency for the FP2 Smooth scale 1 .......................................... 29 8 FP2 Smooth Scale 2 Contours ................................................................................... 30 9 Trend-removed EGG signals across FP2 Smooth scale 2 ......................................... 31 10 fo derivative over time for the FP2 Smooth scale 2. .................................................. 33 11 fo derivative over frequency for the FP2 Smooth scale 2 .......................................... 33 12 FP3 Middle Scale Contours ....................................................................................... 35 13 Spectral slope comparisons for FP3 Middle Scale .................................................... 36 14 Trend-removed EGG signals for FP3 Middle Scale .................................................. 37 15 fo derivative over time for the FP3 Middle scale. ...................................................... 38 16 fo derivative over frequency for the FP2 Middle scale .............................................. 39 17 FP2 Middle Scale Contours ....................................................................................... 40 18 Spectral slope comparisons for FP2 Middle Scale .................................................... 41 19 Trend-removed EGG signals for FP2 Middle Scale .................................................. 42 20 FP5 Unsteady Scale 1 Contours ................................................................................. 44 21 Raw EGG signal across FP5 Unsteady Scale ............................................................ 45 ix 22 Spectral slope comparisons for FP5 Unsteady Scale ................................................. 46 23 fo derivative over time for the FP5 Unsteady scale. .................................................. 47 24 fo derivative over frequency for the FP5 Unsteady scale .......................................... 47 25 FP1 Unsteady Scale Contours .................................................................................... 48 26 FP1 Unsteady Scale Contours – first intensity drop .................................................. 49 27 FP1 Unsteady Scale Contours – second intensity drop ............................................. 50 28 FP1 Unsteady Scale raw EGG signal ......................................................................... 50 29 fo derivative over time for the FP1 Unsteady scale. .................................................. 53 30 fo derivative over frequency for the FP1 Unsteady scale .......................................... 53 31 FP2 Unsteady Scale Contours .................................................................................... 55 32 Trend-removed EGG signals for FP2 Unsteady Scale .............................................. 56 33 Spectral slope comparisons for FP2 Unsteady Scale ................................................. 57 34 fo derivative over time for the FP2 Unsteady scale. .................................................. 58 35 fo derivative over frequency for the FP2 Unsteady scale .......................................... 58 x LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1 Participant experience specifications ......................................................................... 11 2 Instabilities across all analyzed scales ....................................................................... 60 1 CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION Vocal Register Definitions
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