title: Observational study of differences in head position for high notes in famous classical and non-classical male singers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Differences in classical and non-classical singing are due primarily to aesthetic style requirements. The head position can affect the sound quality. This study aimed at comparing the head position for famous classical and non-classical male singers performing high notes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Images of 39 Western classical and 34 non-classical male singers during live performances were obtained from YouTube. Ten raters evaluated the frontal rotational head position (depression versus elevation) and transverse head position (retraction versus protraction) visually using a visual analogue scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed a significant difference for frontal rotational head position.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most non-classical singers in the sample elevated their heads for high notes while the classical singers were observed to keep it around the neutral position. This difference may be attributed to different singing techniques and phonatory system adjustments utilized by each group.
authors.affiliation: a Voice Research Lab, Department of Biophysics , Faculty of Science, Palacky University , Olomouc , the Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Amarante Andrade
authors.affiliation: a Voice Research Lab, Department of Biophysics , Faculty of Science, Palacky University , Olomouc , the Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Švec
mesh_terms: D001307:Auditory Perception; D005197:Famous Persons; D006257:Head / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D019416:Head Movements; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D010699:Phonation; D011187:Posture; D012399:Rotation; D063346:Singing; D014741:Video Recording; D014833:Voice Quality
keywords: Classical; head depression; head elevation; head position; head protraction; head retraction; non-classical posture; singing; singing technique