Case-study magnetic resonance imaging and acoustic investigation of the effects of vocal warm-up on two voice professionals

Abstract

Vocal warm-up (WU)-related changes were studied in one male musical singer and one female speech trainer. They sustained vowels before and after WU in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device. Acoustic recordings were made in a studio. The vocal tract area increased after WU, a formant cluster appeared between 2 and 4.5 kHz, and SPL increased. Evidence of larynx lowering was only found for the male. The pharyngeal inlet over the epilaryngeal outlet ratio (A_ph/A_e) increased by 10%–28%, being 3–4 for the male and 5–7 for the female. The results seem to represent different voice training traditions. A singer's formant cluster may be achievable without a high A_ph/A_e (≥ 6), but limitations of the 2D method should be taken into account.

Key words::

• speaker's/singer's formant cluster
• speech and singing training

Acknowledgements

The study was supported by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic, project GACR 101/08/1155 Computer and physical modeling of vibroacoustic properties of human vocal tract for optimization of voice quality, and by Cost 2103 Action ‘Advanced Voice Function Assessment’.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest.