title: Preliminary findings on the classical singer's use of the pectoralis major muscle.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to further characterize the muscle activity that influences the posture and breathing utilized for classical singing. The activity in the pectoralis major (PC) muscle and the phasing of PC activity to sternocleidomastoideus (STM) activity and upper thorax (UTX) movement were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven professional classical singers (3 sopranos, 1 mezzo, 1 tenor and 2 baritones) and 8 advanced classical singing students (4 sopranos, 1 mezzo, 1 tenor and 2 baritones) participated. Electromyographic activity was recorded from the PC and STM muscles on the right side. UTX movement was traced with a strain gauge sensor placed around the upper thorax. Different arias, freely chosen by the singers from their professional repertoire, served as singing tasks. All subjects performed their task 3 times with variation in vocal loudness (normal, forte, piano).
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was observed that a majority of the singers activated the PC during inhalation and that > 50% of the singers activated it during parts of phonation. In general, however, the activity of the PC was relatively low during phonation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that the PC, in idiosyncratic patterns, could be involved in the inspiratory effort recruited when positioning the UTX during inhalation and phonation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Music and Dance, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway. viggo.pettersen@uis.no
authors.forename: Viggo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pettersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001239:Inhalation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009146:Music; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D010699:Phonation / Q000502:physiology*; D013909:Thorax / Q000502:physiology; D014831:Voice / Q000502:physiology*; D014833:Voice Quality