Mapping of Vocal Risk in Amateur Choir

Voice Disorders and Voice Knowledge in Choir Singers

“…This is similar to the results from a study where amateur choristers with a vocally demanding profession were considered having a higher vocal risk. 12 However, 64.8% of the choir singers in this study did not consider a vocally demanding occupation combined with choral singing in their free time a risk factor for developing a voice disorder. It is important to educate the choir singers about the risk factors behind voice disorders, in order to reduce the risk factors and prevent development of voice disorders.…”

“…The results of a recent study on vocal health among choir singers showed that 17.9% had consulted an ENT and 9.9% an SLP. 12 However, the questions were differently formulated and it is possible that the participants in that study had consulted an ENT and SLP of other reasons than voice problems. Additionally, the participants in their study all came from a big city while the participants in the present study came from various parts of the country including small rural communities where the access to voice specialists can be very limited.…”

“…11 The results from a recent study suggest that amateur choristers are at a higher risk for voice injury, especially female singers, and those working in vocally demanding occupations. 12 Professional voice users are encouraged to use an ergonomic vocal behavior in order to prevent and decrease the risk of developing a voice disorder. 13,14 To be able to use the voice ergonomically, it presupposes receiving adequate knowledge of the voice, voice disorders, and voice ergonomics during the singing studies.…”

Level of physiological, anatomical and pathological knowledge of the singing voice on the part of professional and amateur singers

“…Limited experience on the part of the singer also seems to be a factor conducive toignorance of basic care of the voice. Coelho 9 and Rosa et al 10 say that one of the characteristics commonly found among amateur choir members is their lack of knowledge and their limited experience in comparison with professionals. These problems may be related to thelack of familiarity, on the part of amateur singers, with specific singing techniques 10,11 .…”

“…Rosa et al 10 conclude that, at present, the only source of knowledge available to amateur choir members, are the rehearsals provided by their teachers. Techniques such asbreathing exercises, muscular relaxation, vocalizations, andscales fortonal extensionare still commonly used bychoir teachers.…”