Supraglottic contribution to voice quality

Abstract

Summary Although there has been continuing interest in voice quality, much of this research has focused on the vocal folds rather than the supraglottal structures. This paper reports the use of videoendoscopy for studying supraglottal participation in various singing tasks. In a preliminary study presented last year by the present authors, CT scanning was used to corroborate videoendoscopic observation. Vocal tract activities observed included variation of laryngeal height with pitch, variation of pharyngeal wall dimension with pitch and vowel, and marked supraglottic constriction with certain vocal imitations. In order to gain a better understanding of vocal training, and its effect upon vocal tract physiology, a study was designed using videoendoscopy to observe singers with significant experience and training while performing various vocal tasks. The tasks focused on the following: (1) vocal tract activity associated with pitch changes; (2) the physiology involved in the production of “cover”; (3) the structures involved in the production of vibrato; and (4) the physiology of the singer's “ring.” It would appear that videoendoscopy will become increasingly more valuable to the voice community as our understanding of vocal tract physiology improves.