A Qualitative Study on Voice Care related to Performance, Voice Problems and Voice Knowledge in Professional Singers

Park, Sang Hee; Choi, Seong Hee; Park, Sang Hee; Choi, Seong Hee

doi:2021.26.1.231

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Commun Sci Disord. 2021;26(1): 231-251.
Published online March 31, 2021.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12963/csd.20774

A Qualitative Study on Voice Care related to Performance, Voice Problems and Voice Knowledge in Professional Singers

Sang Hee Park^a ^,b

, and Seong Hee Choi^a ^,c

^aGraduate program in Audiology & Speech -Language Pathology, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan, Korea
^bDepartment of Music & Arts, Gyeongju University, Gyeongju, Korea
^cDepartment of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, College of Bio and Medical Sciences, and Catholic Hearing Voice Speech Center, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan, Korea

Corresponding Author: Seong Hee Choi ,Tel: +82-53-850-2542, Fax: +82-53-359-6780, Email: shgrace@cu.ac.kr

Received October 20, 2020 Revised: December 8, 2020 Accepted December 23, 2020

ABSTRACT

Objectives
Although singers are elite voice users who strive to keep their voice healthy for their performances, they are at high risk for voice problems. Understanding of professional singers’ voice care and their knowledge about voice is the basis for educating about voice care and preventing voice disorders that may interfere with daily activities and performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate voice care related to performance, voice problems, and voice knowledge in singers.
Methods
A total of 10 classical singers (5 males and 5 females) who had more than 10 years of experience in playing and actively performing as opera singers and specialized in using their voice for more than five hours a week participated. The interview content was randomly selected and coded, and the rest of the transcripts were coded by two language pathologists.
Results
4 top topics and 10 sub-topics were derived: Voice care & habits before, during, and after a performance as well as in daily life & periods where they had sore throats; and knowledge of voice anatomy & physiology and singing voice.
Conclusion
This study suggests that professional singers are always trying to manage their voice. However, they rely on their personal experiences or vocal teachers when they have voice problems. In addition, singers showed insufficient knowledge of voice anatomy & physiology, and little experience with voice therapy. Vocal hygiene and voice health education would be useful to prevent voice problems and maintain their healthy singing & speaking voice.