Effects of Traditional Turkish Music Education on Voice Range Profile and Voice Quality

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study; to investigate whether traditional Turkish music education is as effective on voice range profile and voice quality as classical music education. Methods: Twenty volunteers in the Conservatory and 10 volunteers the Turkish Amateur Music Choir were included in the study. Digital recordings of the subjects’ voices were obtained before and after 8 months of voice training. Voice recordings were analyzed with the Dr. Speech voice analysis program. Voice analysis results were compared between groups. Results: Voice range profile was found expanded as 3, 2, and 5 semitones in group 1 (29 to 32 semitones), group 2 (30 to 32 semitones) and group 3 (23 to 28 semitones), respectively. The parameters of harmonic component of voice such as HNR, SNR, and NNE improved in all groups after voice training. GRBAS scores were normal in the conservatory group before training and improved following training in all groups, with the amateur group being the most obvious. When the alterations were compared between the groups, no significant differences were observed between the first and second conservatory groups, whereas a significant difference was observed between the amateur group and the first and second conservatory groups in seven parameters (amplitude tremor, HNR, SNR, NNE and GRBAS). Conclusions: This is the first study about the effects of traditional Turkish music education on subjective and objective parameters of the singing voice. Our research shows that traditional Turkish music education improved the singing voice improvements as much as with classical music.