Oropharyngeal Geometry and the Singing Voice: Immediate Effect of Two Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Exercises

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to verify the immediate effect of a flexible resonance tube in water and of lip trill on oropharyngeal geometry and vocal acoustic parameters of singers without vocal symptoms.

Methods: Twenty-two adult singers participated in the study. They had an average age of 27 (±4.8) years. Participants were split into two groups: a group composed of 12 singers who performed the flexible resonance tube (FRT) exercise and a group of 10 singers who performed the Lip Trill technique (LTT). Acoustic pharyngometry and acoustic analysis of the voice were used to assess oropharyngeal geometry before and after the exercises.

Results: After performing the techniques, the vocal tract length was longer in the group that performed the FRT, compared to the one that performed the LTT. In the acoustic evaluation, there was an improvement in the glottal to noise excitation ratio and a decrease in noise in the group of singers who performed the LTT. In the analysis by sex men had a longer oral cavity compared to women and after application of the techniques greater volume of the vocal tract.

Conclusion: There was variation in the oropharyngeal geometry with the FRT, while the LTT had a positive effect on the vocal acoustic parameters related to glottal noise.

Keywords: Oropharynx; Singing; Speech therapy; Voice Quality.