| The purpose of this research was to obtain a detailed profile of the adolescent speaking voice and to assess which style of singing causes the highest level of muscular tension. The three singing genres evaluated were classical, musical theater, and gospel. Twenty middle and high school choral students, 13 females and 7 males, comprised the sample. The KayPentax Computerized Speech Lab (CSL) was utilized to extract acoustic parameters. Laryngeal imaging was performed on each subject using the KayPentax Stroboscopy System while the subjects sang excerpts of the three styles of music. Results showed acoustic parameters that were outside of published normative ranges for both females and males. Laryngeal imaging revealed greater muscular tension while singing musical theater compared to classical and gospel singing. |
