Singing Terminology Usage: A Quantitative, Inter-Disciplinary Study by Shannon LK Coates A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts Faculty of Music Graduate Department University of Toronto © Copyright by Shannon LK Coates 2016 Singing Terminology Usage: A Quantitative, Inter-Disciplinary Study Shannon LK Coates Doctor of Musical Arts Faculty of Music Graduate Department University of Toronto 2016 Abstract Calls for a consistent terminology that can be used both intra-disciplinarily among voice teachers and inter-disciplinarily among the voice professionals who treat or teach classical singers have been heard for the better part of a century. Based on perceptions of inconsistent terminology use, voice pedagogues have produced glossaries containing favoured terms and their definitions, written articles prescribing specific pedagogic expressions and imagery, and in a few cases, published stand-alone dictionaries. This body of activity was rationalized as a “response to a pressing need to define and analyze those terms and expressions in common usage by the vocal profession from the early seventeenth century to the present, as well as those introduced into the lexicon by members of the various scientific disciplines concerned with the subject” (Reid 1983, xix). To date, the success of these attempts to systematize voice terminology among voice practitioners has never been quantified and they may or may not reflect the current objective reality of terminology use by voice teachers and by voice specialists in the fields of speech-language pathology and laryngology. This unique inter-disciplinary research uses survey methodology to ascertain a) whether currently practicing voice teachers use a common terminology, ii and b) whether there is commonality of terminology use among voice teachers and voice practitioners in the fields of speech-language pathology and laryngology. Results of this research reveal that there is a higher level of consistent terminology use among voice teachers than what is presently assumed, and that there is a higher level of inter-disciplinary agreement about breathing for singing terminology than what is currently assumed. These results suggest that ongoing calls for systematization of singing ter- minology may no longer be warranted. iii Acknowledgments With immense gratitude I acknowledge the unwavering support and unfailing guidance of my supervisor, Professor Lorna MacDonald, who has been my mentor, champion, and great friend throughout my academic career. I wish to sincerely thank everyone who read this thesis at various stages of its development and, in particular, my long-standing committee members: Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt and Dr. Darryl Edwards. Finally, and most importantly, I am beyond grateful to my husband for his steadfast love, support, and friendship. iv Table of Contents CHAPTER PAGE 1: INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Literature Review: History of Calls for Uniform Voice Pedagogy Terminology in English-Language North America from 1900 to Present 2: BACKGROUND 11 Development of Fields of Voice Pedagogy, Speech-Language Pathology, and Laryngology 2.1 Voice Pedagogy 2.2 Speech-Language Pathology 2.3 Laryngology 2.4 Inter-Disciplinary Collaboration and Communication 3: METHODOLOGY 24 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Sample and Distribution 3.3 Survey Design and Development 3.4 Data Collection and Analysis 3.5 Expected Outcomes 4: RESULTS 42 4.1 Breathing for Singing Terms: Frequency of Use, Usage, and Definitions 4.2 Breathing for Singing Descriptors Terms: Frequency of Use 4.3 Breathing for Singing Descriptors Terms: Primary Terms 5: DISCUSSION 71 5.1 Conclusions 5.2 Limitations 5.3 Future Research v List of Tables CHAPTER 4 PAGE Table 1. Appoggio – Usage …................................................................................ 42 Table 2. Appoggio – Definition …........................................................................... 43 Table 3. Summary Totals – Appoggio ..................................................................... 43 Table 4. Breath Control – Usage …........................................................................ 44 Table 5. Breath Control – Definition 1 …............................................................... 44 Table 6. Breath Control – Definition 2 …................................................................ 45 Table 7. Summary Totals – Breath Control ............................................................. 46 Table 8. Breath Management – Usage ….........................................…................... 46 Table 9. Breath Management – Definition ….......................................................... 46 Table 10. Summary Totals – Breath Management ................................................... 47 Table 11. Breath Support – Usage …...................................................................... 47 Table 12. Breath Support – Definition …................................................................ 48 Table 13. Summary Totals – Breath Support ........................................................... 48 Table 14. Muscular Antagonism – Usage …........................................................... 48 Table 15. Muscular Antagonism – Statement 1 ….................................................. 49 Table 16. Muscular Antagonism – Statement 2 ….................................................. 50 vi Table 17. Muscular Antagonism – Statement 3 ….................................................. 50 Table 18. Summary Totals – Muscular Antagonism ............................................... 51 Table 19. Suspension – Usage …............................................................................ 51 Table 20. Suspension – Definition 1 …................................................................... 51 Table 21. Suspension – Definition 2 …................................................................... 52 Table 22. Suspension – Definition 3 …................................................................... 52 Table 23. Suspension – Definition 4 …................................................................... 53 Table 24. Suspension – Definition 5 …................................................................... 53 Table 25. Summary Totals – Suspension ................................................................. 54 Table 26. Abdominal Breathing – Usage …............................................................ 56 Table 27. Summary Totals – Abdominal Breathing ................................................. 56 Table 28. Belly Breathing – Usage …...................................................................... 57 Table 29. Summary Totals – Belly Breathing .......................................................... 57 Table 30. Clavicular Breathing – Usage …............................................................. 57 Table 31. Summary Totals – Clavicular Breathing ................................................. 58 Table 32. Deep Breathing – Usage …...................................................................... 58 Table 33. Summary Totals – Deep Breathing .......................................................... 58 Table 34. High Breathing – Usage …...................................................................... 58 vii Table 35. Summary Totals – High Breathing ......................................................... 59 Table 36. Low Breathing – Usage …....................................................................... 59 Table 37. Summary Totals – Low Breathing ........................................................... 59 Table 38. Low Torso Breathing – Usage …............................................................ 60 Table 39. Summary Totals – Low Torso Breathing ................................................. 60 Table 40. Middle Torso Breathing – Usage …........................................................ 60 Table 41. Summary Totals – Middle Torso Breathing ............................................ 60 Table 42. Rib Breathing – Usage …....................................................................... 61 Table 43. Summary Totals – Rib Breathing ............................................................ 61 Table 44. Thoracic Breathing – Usage …............................................................... 61 Table 45. Summary Totals – Thoracic Breathing ................................................... 62 Table 46. Upper Chest Breathing – Usage …......................................................... 62 Table 47. Summary Totals – Upper Chest Breathing ............................................. 62 Table 48. Upper Torso Breathing – Usage …......................................................... 63 Table 49. Summary Totals ...................................................................................... 63 Table 50. Primary Breathing Descriptor Terms – Upper Body …......................... 65 Table 51. Primary Breathing Descriptor Terms – Upper Body – Numerical Breakdown 65 Table 52. Primary Breathing Descriptor Terms – Middle Body …........................ 67 viii Table 53. Primary Breathing Descriptor Terms – Middle Body – Numerical Breakdown 67 Table 54. Primary Breathing Descriptor Terms – Lower Body ….......................... 69 Table 55. Primary Breathing Descriptor Terms – Lower Body – Numerical Breakdown 69 CHAPTER 5 Table 1. Breathing for Singing Terms – Inter-Disciplinary Breakdown …............ 76 Table 2. Breathing for Singing Descriptor Terms – Upper Body – Inter-Disciplinary Breakdown