Development of a vocal training program for music therapists - Preliminary study

Abstract

Appropriate vocal skills for singing and speaking are important as a therapeutic tool for music therapists. We developed a preliminary voice training program for music therapists with perspectives including music therapy, musicology, phonetics, acoustics, speech-language pathology, and vocal pedagogy. Two music therapists agreed to participate in the study. The one-week program, consisted of an introductory vocal workshop, including physical warm-ups, vocal warm-ups, and vocal hygiene. This was followed by a one-week homework training, and subsequently by a final workshop. As the results, extension of MPT (maximum phonation time) and expansion of vocal range were observed. Improvement of vocal qualities was identified in speaking voices; in singing voices, emergence and stability of vibrato were observed but there were no significant changes in the LTAS (long-term average spectrum). In future studies, laryngeal inspections will be necessary to confirm the effects of this preliminary voice training program.