title: Vocal technique in a group of Middle Eastern singers.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon. alhamdan@svclb.com
authors.forename: Abdul-Latif
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hamdan
authors.forename: Reem
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deeb
authors.forename: Rania A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Tohme
authors.forename: Hani
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rifai
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Husseini
authors.forename: Nabil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fuleihan
mesh_terms: 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