Effects of Bel Canto Training on Acoustic and Aerodynamic Characteristics of the Singing Voice.

OBJECTIVES This study was designed to assess the impact of 2 years of operatic training on acoustic and aerodynamic characteristics of the singing voice. STUDY DESIGN This is a longitudinal study. METHODS Participants were 21 graduate students and 16 undergraduate students. They completed a variety of tasks, including laryngeal videostroboscopy, audio recording of pitch range, and singing of syllable trains at full voice in chest, passaggio, and head registers. Inspiration, intraoral pressure, airflow, and sound pressure level (SPL) were captured during the syllable productions. RESULTS Both graduate and undergraduate students significantly increased semitone range and SPL. The contributions to increased SPL were typically increased inspiration, increased airflow, and reduced laryngeal resistance, although there were individual differences. Two graduate students increased SPL without increased airflow and likely used supraglottal strategies to do so. CONCLUSIONS Students demonstrated improvements in both acoustic and aerodynamic components of singing. Increasing SPL primarily through respiratory drive is a healthy strategy and results from intensive training.