Unpublished conference/Abstract (Scientific congresses and symposiums)
Stress and singing accuracy: What is the relationship?
Larrouy-Maestri, Pauline
2014EVTA symposium
 

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Keywords :
performance anxiety; music performance; pitch accuracy; voice; music education
Abstract :
[en] Singing in public can be stressful and stress affects the control of the fundamental frequency, i.e. a critical element to control in order to sing in tune. It seems thus clear that singing in public will have an influence on vocal accuracy. In addition, the quality of a musical performance can be lessened or enhanced if the performer experiences stressful conditions. In order to clarify the effects of stress on singing accuracy and to explore solutions to favor the positive consequences of stress, we ran an experiment in collaboration with the Royal Conservatory of Liège. Thirty-one music students were asked to learn a simple melody. There were then recorded in a stressful condition (i.e., a music examination) and a non-stressful condition. Two groups were defined according to the challenge level of the music examination (first and second music levels). Measurements were made by self-reported state anxiety (CSAI-2R questionnaire) and by observing heart rate activity (electrocardiogram) during each performance. In addition, the vocal accuracy of the sung performances (in terms of respect of melodic contour, precision of intervals and respect of the tonality) was objectively analyzed. As expected, state anxiety and heart rate were significantly higher on the day of the music examination than in the non-stressful condition for all the music students. However, the effect of stress was positive for the first-year students but negative for the second-year students, for whom the music examination was particularly challenging. In addition, highly significant correlations were found between the intensity of cognitive symptoms and the vocal accuracy criteria. This study highlights the contrasting effects of stress on singing voice accuracy. The results encourage searchers to take into account the stress level of the performer when evaluating singing accuracy. In addition, it seems pertinent to work on the perception of somatic and cognitive symptoms in higher music institutions and to try to diminish the stress level of students, in order to favor the positive consequences of stress on the quality of musical performances. Thanks to this method, we are actually focusing on studies designed to better understand the effects of stress on speaking voice.
Disciplines :
Theoretical & cognitive psychology
Author, co-author :
Larrouy-Maestri, Pauline ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Psychologie : cognition et comportement > Logopédie des troubles de la voix
Language :
English
Title :
Stress and singing accuracy: What is the relationship?
Publication date :
31 October 2014
Event name :
EVTA symposium
Event date :
31 octobre 2014
By request :
Yes
Available on ORBi :
since 11 November 2014

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