Vocal training during male puberty : a critical literature review on male voice mutation

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In a country where choral music enjoys a rich heritage especially in schools, little focus has been placed on vocal health and the development of young singers. Very few studies have been done in South Africa in this regard. Furthermore, the question of how to deal with pubescent boys experiencing vocal change during this development period in a choral context has enjoyed even less attention. This study endeavoured to answer the above question by asking another question, namely, what happens physiologically during puberty and how do these changes impact the voice of the pubescent boy? In answering, a physiological overview has been presented to provide a better understanding of this process. The intention is to provide conductors and pedagogues with a basic understanding of how to manage the vocal change of pubescent boys. Contrasting literature has been studied to tap into the thoughts of theorists and researchers regarding the pubescent singer and whether these boys should be allowed to sing as opposed to resting their voices. Once it was established that the modern approach is to let the pubescent boy continue singing, the next step was addressed, namely, how vocal pedagogues should deal with the singing adolescent while they (the pedagogues) had no resources at hand. This study provides the conductor working with pubescent boys with solutions in the form of vocal exercises. The study furthermore elaborates on the use and application of exercises for results in breath control, the improvement of healthy phonation (vowel placement), and the successful mixing of problematic register changes. Exercises are presented for the use in choral rehearsal spaces thus providing choral conductors with practical solutions to deal with the pubescent boy and his changing voice that could result in a generation of pubescent boys equipped with tools to cope with vocal change.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University