The Effect of Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Exercise (SOVTE) and Traditional Vocal Warm-up (TVW) on the Vocal Quality of Untrained Female Singers in Malaysia: A Comparison

Abstract

Vocal warm-up has garnered much research attention these recent years. This study compared the short-term effects of straw phonation (SP) with a traditional vocal warm-up (TVW) on the vocal quality of untrained female singers. It also determined the effect of exercise type on the vocal economy and skill acquisition. Vocal quality was measured using voice range profile (VRP), multi-parametric index, acoustic, and aerodynamic parameters. Eighty participants were randomly recruited and divided into two equal groups to perform vocal warm-ups at a frequency of two 10-minute sessions per day for three weeks. Voice data were collected using Praat and Vocalgrama software, while the statistical results were analysed using Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS). As a result, some parameters, i.e., fundamental frequency maximum (F0-max), maximum intensity (max Int) and area of VRP, fundamental frequency (F0), jitter, shimmer, harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR), and dysphonia severity index (DSI), projected significant changes after three weeks of warming up exercise in TVW group. In the SP group, the participants experienced significant changes in max Int and area of VRP only. Both groups did not exert significant changes to min Int, which indirectly measures phonation threshold pressure (PTP), signifying no improvement for the vocal economy. Participants from the TVW group benefitted the most from vocal warm-ups due to notable improvement in vocal quality, technical singing skills (i.e., skill acquisition), and vocal efficiency. Meanwhile, the SP group only benefitted in terms of enhanced vocal efficiency. Acoustic parameters, aerodynamic, dysphonia severity index, semi-occluded vocal tract exercise, traditional vocal warm-up, vocal quality, voice range profile