Fitzmaurice Voicework Pilot Study

Effects of Sixteen Month Voice Training of Student Actors Applying the Linklater Voice Method

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates the perceptual and acoustic changes in student actors' voices after 16 months of Linklater Voice training, which is a holistic method to train actors' voices.

METHODS

Eleven (n = 11) actor students' text and Voice Range Profile (VRP) recordings were analyzed pretraining and 16 months posttraining. From text readings at comfortable performance loudness, both perceptual and acoustic analyses were made. Acoustic measures included sound pressure level (SPL), fundamental frequency (fo), and sound level differences between different frequency ranges derived from long-term-average spectrum. Sustained vowels [i:], [o], and [e] abstracted from the text sample were analyzed for formant frequencies F1-F4 and the frequency difference between F4 and F3. The VRP was registered to investigate SPL of the softest and loudest phonations throughout the voice range.

RESULTS

The perceived pitch range during text reading increased significantly. The acoustic result showed a strong trend toward decreasing in minimum fo, and increasing in maximum fo and fo range. The VRP showed a significant increase in the fo range and dynamics (SPL range). Perceived voice production showed a trend toward phonation balance (neither pressed-nor breathy) and darker voice color posttraining.

CONCLUSION

The perceptual and acoustic analysis of text reading and acoustic measures of VRP suggest that LV training has a positive impact on voice.

Effects of Vocal Training on Students' Voices in a Professional Drama School

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of vocal training on acoustic and aerodynamic characteristics of student actors’ voices.

Study Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary medical facility speech and swallow center.

Subjects and Methods

Acoustic, aerodynamic, and Voice Handicap Index–10 measures were collected from 14 first-year graduate-level drama students before and after a standard vocal training program and analyzed for changes over time.

Results

Among the aerodynamic measures that were collected, mean expiratory airflow was significantly reduced after vocal training. Among the acoustic measures that were collected, mean fundamental frequency was significantly increased after vocal training. On average, Voice Handicap Index–10 scores were unchanged after vocal training.

Conclusion

The cohort of drama students undergoing vocal training demonstrated improvements in voice aerodynamics, which indicate enhanced glottal efficiency after training. The present study also found an increased average fundamental frequency among the actors during sustained voicing and no changes in jitter and shimmer despite frequent performance.