Automated tracking of quantitative parameters from single line scanning of vocal folds: A case study of the 'messa di voce' exercise

• Published in: Logopedics, phoniatrics, vocology Vol. 40; no. 1; pp. 44 - 54
• Main Authors: Dejonckere, Philippe H., Lebacq, Jean, Bocchi, Leonardo, Orlandi, Silvia, Manfredi, Claudia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa Healthcare 01-04-2015; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Acoustics; Automation, Laboratory; Biomechanical Phenomena; Feedback; Feedback, Physiological; flow glottography; high speed; Humans; Kymography - methods; Male; messa di voce; Phonation; Pressure; Singing; single line scanning; Sound Spectrography; subglottic pressure; Time Factors; Vibration; videokymography; Vocal Cords - physiology; singing; Feedback; flow glottography; high speed; subglottic pressure; videokymography; messa di voce; single line scanning
• ISSN: 1401-5439; 1651-2022
• DOI: 10.3109/14015439.2013.861014

Abstract
This article presents a novel application of the 'single line scanning' of the vocal fold vibrations (kymography) in singing pedagogy, particularly in a specific technical voice exercise: the 'messa di voce'. It aims at giving the singer relevant and valid short-term feedback. A user-friendly automatic analysis program makes possible a precise, immediate quantification of the essential physiological parameters characterizing the changes in glottal impedance, concomitant with the progressive increase and decrease of the lung pressure. The data provided by the program show a strong correlation with the hand-made measurements. Additional measurements such as subglottic pressure and flow glottography by inverse filtering can be meaningfully correlated with the data obtained from the kymographic images.