Differences in Respiratory Function and Vocal Aerodynamics between Professional Sopranos and Female Subjects without Vocal Training

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J Korean Soc Laryngol Phoniatr Logop > Volume 12(2); 2001 > Article

Journal of The Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics 2001;12(2): 121-125.

훈련된 여자 성악가와 일반인의 호흡능력에 대한 비교 연구

¹연세대학교 의과대학 영동세브란스병원 음성언어의학연구소²연세대학교 의과대학 영동세브란스병원 호흡기센터³연세대학교 의과대학 영동세브란스병원 재활의학과

Differences in Respiratory Function and Vocal Aerodynamics between Professional Sopranos and Female Subjects without Vocal Training

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ABSTRACT

Singing requires exquisite coordination between the respiratory and phonatory system to efficiently control glottal airflow. Respiratory function and vocal aerodynamics were investigated in six female professional sopranos and in six female subjects without vocal training. All sopranos had more than 15 years of formal classic vocal training. Pulmonary function test data on simple pulmonary function, flow volume curve, static lung volumes, maximum inspiratory pressure(MIP), and maximum expiratory pressure(MEP) were obtained from all subjects. Vocal aerodynamic studies of maximum phonation time(MPT), phonation quotient, and mean glottal flow rates (MFR) were also measured in all subjects. Simple pulmonary function in professional sopranos was generally the same as that of other female subjects without vocal training. However, MIP and MEP showing respiratory muscle forces were significantly elevated in professional sopranos, compared to those of other female subjects without vocal training. Maximum phonation times and phonation quotient in sopranos are longer than those of other female subjects even though there were no differences in simple pulmonary function. High-pitched tones were made with significantly higher mean glottal flow rates(GFR) in normal subjects than low-pitched tones, whereas no changes in GFR were found in sopranos. The result indicated that sopranos demonstrated significant improvements in aerodynamic measures of GFR, maximum phonation time, suggesting an increase in glottal efficiency.

KEY WORDS： Professional soprano;Pulmonary function;Vocal aerodynamics;Maximum phonation time;Maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressure;

중심 단어： 호흡능력;최대흡기압;최대호기압;폐활량;