Vocal technique in a group of Middle Eastern singers.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to report on the vocal technique in a group of Middle Eastern singers.


METHODS
A total of 78 Middle Eastern singers were assessed. Demographic data included age, gender, training status and number of years of singing. All singers had laryngeal videoendostroboscopy. Description and grading of posture, tension, type of breathing, type of phonation, resonance and tone quality are reported. Proportions and means (+/- SD) were used to describe the sample for categorical and continuous variables respectively. Associations between endostroboscopy and voice technique were determined by chi(2) or Fisher's exact test.


RESULTS
There were 43 males and 35 females with an age ranging between 16 and 32 years and a mean of 23 +/- 4 years. Of these, 88.5% were nontrained singers and 50% had more than 3 years of singing experience. Around 80% of Middle Eastern singers rely on either thoracic or clavicular breathing. Posture was average in 68% and moderate tension was present in 63% of the cases. Two thirds had a bright voice, 61% were hypernasal and almost 46% had a strained phonation. There was a significant correlation between posture and tension.


CONCLUSIONS
Middle Eastern singing relies more on thoracic breathing and is characterized by tension.
Hamdan
Abdul-Latif
AL
Department of Otolaryngology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon. alhamdan@svclb.com
Deeb
Reem
R
Tohme
Rania A
RA
Rifai
Hani
H
Husseini
Sami
S
Fuleihan
Nabil
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D007861:Lebanon; D008297:Male; D009146:Music; D010699:Phonation / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D049489:Stroboscopy; D013909:Thorax; D014741:Video Recording; D014833:Voice Quality; D014834:Voice Training