Voice Dosimetry in an Elementary Music Student Teacher

ABSTRACT

This study pilots a new voice dosimeter device applied to a music student teacher across five consecutive school days. The aim of this study was to measure voice use during instructional periods in the music teacher classroom, and the participant wore the dosimeter during the school day in two elementary school buildings with children aged 5–11. The device was successfully deployed, and the results indicated that measures of fundamental frequency (F0) and volume (dB) and ambient sounds (dB) varied across the school day and according to student teacher activities. Significant differences were found between voice use when teaching full time for 1 day versus partial instruction and class participation. Phonation percentage time varied by day (M = 28.12%), including 27.08% on Day 1, 24.41% on Day 2, 43.49% on Day 3, 27.24% on Day 4, and 18.40% on Day 5.

KEYWORDS:

• Vocal health
• classroom music teacher
• voice dosimetry
• dosimeter
• voice use
• vocal health

Acknowledgments

This project was made possible in part by a Faculty Research Grant from the Penn State College of Arts & Architecture.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Supplementary Material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Notes

1. Vocal Load is stress inflicted on the speech organs when phonation (i.e., speaking or singing) over a period of time.

2. Voice Dosimeter is a sound level monitor intended to measure the sound production and noise exposure of a person over a period of time.

3. Phonation is the process by which the vocal folds produce sound through vibration within the larynx.

4. Fundamental Frequency (F0) is the lowest frequency of a periodic waveform, which translates to the pitch that is perceived in music as the lowest partial present.

5. Sound Pressure Level (SPL) is the acoustical pressure deviation from the local the ambient atmospheric pressure caused by a sound wave. Within the context of this study, SPL can be most easily interpreted as volume.

6. One-Way ANOVA is an analysis of variance between one continues variable and three or more categorical variables.

7. Background Noise Level (BNL) is the sound pressure level, measured in decibels (dB), of ambient sounds in a given location. Voice Dosimetry in an Elementary Music Student Teacher

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Bryan E. Nichols

Bryan E. Nichols, PhD, is a teacher and conductor at Pennsylvania State University, where he leads the University Choir and teaches conducting and choral methods. He is a life member of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and serves in leadership positions in the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and ACDA.

Kay Piña

Kay Piña is currently a PhD student at Pennsylvania State University. Before moving to State College, Kay was teaching general music to fifth and sixth graders, and sixth grade choir at Laura Ingalls Wilder Intermediate in Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD, a school district outside of San Antonio, TX. Kay also spent time teaching elementary music grades K-6 at David Crockett Elementary, now David Crockett Academy, in San Antonio ISD. Kay completed her Bachelor of Arts in music at Texas State University in San Marcos and received her Master of Music degree while studying at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Scott-Lee Atchison

Scott-Lee Atchison is currently a PhD candidate in music education at Pennsylvania State University. Before his enrollment at Penn State, Mr. Atchison served as the Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Kentucky and Associate Director of Bands at Texas A&M University-Commerce, where he directed the athletic bands, conducted the symphonic band and concert band, and taught classes in music technology, music literature, and marching band techniques. Mr. Atchison is a Yamaha Performing Artist and is a contributing author for the book series A Composer’s Insight: Thoughts, Analysis and Commentary on Contemporary Masterpieces for Wind Band (Volume IV).