Vocal capabilities of nonprofessional singers evaluated by measurement andsuperimposition of their speaking, shouting and singing voice range profiles

Voice range profile (VRP) measurement (Phonetography) was used for the eval uation of the vocal capabilities of 41 female (F) and 50 male (M) members o f a nonprofessional choir. By means of an automatic VPR measurement system F0 and SPL dB(A) were determined and displayed real time, two-dimensionally . The speaking Voice (reading a standard passage as well as counting from t he softest to the loudest intensity),the shouting voice (3-4 times shouting a standard sentence) and the singing voice (sustained phonation/la:/at min imum and maximum intensity level) were measured. The VRPs of these voice mo dalities were superimposed on the screen and the plot. The averaged values for the speaking VRP: intensity range (F):48 dB (range 46 soft to 94 dB lou d phonation),(M): 52 dB (range 46-98). Pitch range (F):15 semitones (ST) (C is3, 138-E4, 329 Hz), (M):19 ST (E2, 82 Hz-H3, 246 HE). The average slope f or the speaking voice (F):0,31 ST/dB,(M): 0,36 ST/dB. Shouting VRP highest intensity (F): 106,5 dB, (M):108,5 dB, highest pitch (F): between Ais4, 466 and H4,493 Hz. (M): E4, 329 Hz. Average slope for speaking and shouting Vo ice (F):0,36 ST/dB, (M): 0,39 ST/dB. Singing VRP pitch range (F): 34,6 ST, (M):37 ST, intensity range (F):60 dB, (M): 58 dB. The pitch extension of th e speaking VRP ranges from 2,9 to 46,2%, speaking and shouting VRPs togethe r with 2,9 to 65% of the pitch range of the singing VRP (F), (M) 2,7-54% an d 2,7-67,5% accordingly. The average values for nonprofessional singers ref lect an effective but not special use of the phonatory system for the speak ing,shouting and singing voice functions with respect to pitch and intensit y.