title: Defining 'open throat' through content analysis of experts' pedagogical practices.
abstract: 'Open throat' is a term regularly used in the singing studio, but agreement across pedagogues as to its definition and function has not yet been assessed. Fifteen expert singing pedagogues participated in a qualitative study involving a semi-structured interview to explore current thinking regarding terminology, pedagogy, sound quality and the perceived physiology to achieve open throat, as used in the singing studio. Most teachers included the use of the technique as a fundamental in singing training, and were positive about the sound quality it achieved, especially in classical singing. The purpose of the technique was described as a way of maximizing pharyngeal space and/or achieving abduction of the ventricular folds.
authors.affiliation: Australian Centre for Applied Research in Music Performance, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, The University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Helen F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Dianna T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Kenny
authors.forename: Maree
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010614:Pharynx / Q000502:physiology*; D010699:Phonation / Q000502:physiology*; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014831:Voice / Q000502:physiology*; D014833:Voice Quality; D014834:Voice Training