Longitudinal research on adolescent voice change in males

Adolescence is characterised by a distinctive phase of vocal development which bridges childhood and adulthood. Various research studies over the past twenty years have demonstrated that the physical maturation of the adolescent voice mechanism produces a systematic change in both the male and female singing voice. Longitudinal research data indicate that there are distinctive features to each stage of adolescent voice change and that, with an appropriate matching of repertoire, it is possible for all young people to continue to sing successfully throughout this period. The traditional and stereotypical notion that adolescent male voices ‘break’ is untenable in the light of this research evidence and it is suggested that a concept of adolescent singing voice ‘transformation’ or ‘change’ is a more accurate representation of the physiological reality. It is a weakness of the revised National Curriculum for Music (1995) that it makes no appropriate reference to this unique period of adolescent voice change and, as a result, teachers receive inadequate statutory guidance on the development of singing at Key Stage 3.

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Voice Change in Pop Culture

Thinking Outside the Voice Box ◽

10.1093/oso/9780190916374.003.0005 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 77-132

Author(s):

Bridget Sweet

Keyword(s):

Pop Culture ◽

Music Educators ◽

Television Series ◽

Voice Change ◽

Media Portrayals ◽

Mainstream Media ◽

Music Television ◽

Adolescent Voice ◽

Popular Television ◽

The Way

The chapter discusses the way popular understanding and misunderstanding of voice change is largely perpetuated by mainstream media. Portrayals of voice change distributed via music, television, and movies have contributed to a simulacrum of adolescent voice change, a situated reality not based in fact but accepted in pop culture. The generally embraced perception of voice change is that it is a time of humiliation, anxiety, turmoil, and dread. Voice change is not always pleasant, but students and music educators perceive and approach the experience with such angst and trepidation well before it begins that is rarely given the opportunity to be something positive or exciting. The chapter examines and distills episodes of The Brady Bunch, The Wonder Years, and The Goldbergs, popular television series that spanned a period of more than 40 years, each with an episode focused on the adolescent changing voice.

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Anatomy and Physiology

Thinking Outside the Voice Box ◽

10.1093/oso/9780190916374.003.0003 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 39-60

Author(s):

Bridget Sweet

Keyword(s):

Change Process ◽

Special Section ◽

Music Educators ◽

Male Adolescent ◽

Male Voice ◽

Voice Change ◽

Anatomy And Physiology ◽

Adolescent Voice ◽

The Impact ◽

The Voice

The chapter describes how an understanding of the way the voice operates can empower both female and male adolescent singers as well as the teachers assisting them through the voice change process. It unpacks basic vocal anatomy and physiology, and then overlays physiological transformations that occur in the larynx during female and male voice change. A special section addresses the impact of hormones on the adolescent voice (especially for females) and promotes awareness of premenstrual vocal syndrome. The chapter encourages music educators to frequently discuss and reference vocal anatomy and physiology with adolescent singers in order to demystify vocal challenges and dispel myths and misunderstandings about how the voice and body function.

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Growth of the Human Prepubertal and Pubertal Larynx

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/jshr.2503.446 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 446-455 ◽

Cited By ~ 99

Author(s):

Joel C. Kahane

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Measurement Data ◽

Vocal Folds ◽

Voice Change ◽

Quantitative Characteristics ◽

Experimental Protocols ◽

Laryngeal Cartilages ◽

Adolescent Voice ◽

Published Research ◽

Caucasian Female

Prepubertal, pubertal, and adult measurements of human larynges were used to describe growth of the larynx from prepuberty to adulthood. Linear and weight measurements made of 10 Caucasian male and 10 Caucasian female prepubertal and pubertal cadaveric larynges were compared to adult measurement data obtained from another study on 20 male and 20 female larynges of adults, aged 37-70. In both studies measurements and experimental protocols were similar, allowing direct comparisons to be made between samples. Results highlight specific quantitative characteristics and trends in circumpubertal growth of the laryngeal cartilages and the vocal folds for each sex and with respect to sex differences. The results are discussed with respect to the literature on postnatal laryngeal development and to published research on adolescent voice change.

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Thinking Outside the Voice Box

10.1093/oso/9780190916374.001.0001 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Bridget Sweet

Keyword(s):

Music Education ◽

Choral Music ◽

Classification Systems ◽

Female Voice ◽

Male Adolescent ◽

Choral Music Education ◽

Voice Change ◽

Adolescent Voice ◽

The Voice ◽

Changing Voice

Thinking Outside the Voice Box: Adolescent Voice Change in Music Education is different from other books on voice change in that it encourages new and holistic ways of thinking about the female and male adolescent changing voice. It gives choral music educators (or anyone interested in the changing voice) the opportunity to step away from typical considerations of voice change and explore the experience within the bigger picture of adolescence. Female and male adolescent voice change are addressed at length, but special efforts have been made to bring new attention to female voice change to boost considerations of females in choral music education. Holistic considerations encompass the importance of understanding physical development during adolescence, including the body, brain, and auditory system; vocal anatomy and physiology in general, as well as during male and female voice change; the impact of hormones on the adolescent voice, especially for female singers; ideas of resolve and perseverance that are essential to adolescent navigation of voice change; and exploration of portrayals of voice change that have contributed to a situated reality not based in fact, but accepted in pop culture. Choral educators are also given a larger scope of voice classification systems and other foundational ideas in choral music education through examination of some of the most eminent works in the profession. Emerging considerations of adolescent voice change beyond classification systems provide new food for thought about working with the adolescent changing voice.

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Muscle Tension Dysphonia Following Adolescent Voice Change

The Japan Journal of Logopedics and Phoniatrics ◽

10.5112/jjlp.62.246 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 62 (3) ◽

pp. 246-251

Author(s):

Tsukasa Takeue ◽

Keiko Maekawa ◽

Atsushi Suehiro

Keyword(s):

Muscle Tension ◽

Voice Change ◽

Muscle Tension Dysphonia ◽

Adolescent Voice

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Evaluation of gross‐sectional studies of adolescent voice change in males

Speech Monographs ◽

10.1080/03637756709375523 ◽

1967 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

pp. 80-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Harry Hollien ◽

Ellen Malcik

Keyword(s):

Voice Change ◽

Adolescent Voice

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Adolescent voice change in southern Negro males∗

Speech Monographs ◽

10.1080/03637756209375336 ◽

1962 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 53-58 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Harry Hollien ◽

Ellen Malcik

Keyword(s):

Voice Change ◽

Adolescent Voice

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Emerging Considerations

Thinking Outside the Voice Box ◽

10.1093/oso/9780190916374.003.0007 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 161-192

Author(s):

Bridget Sweet

Keyword(s):

Classification Systems ◽

Professional Musicians ◽

Voice Change ◽

Choral Repertoire ◽

Personal Needs ◽

Female Singers ◽

Adolescent Voice ◽

Choral Programs ◽

Insight Into ◽

Changing Voice

The chapter discusses emerging considerations of adolescent voice change beyond classification systems and provides new food for thought about working with the adolescent changing voice. A section of the chapter specifically addresses female singers, for while it is common to have more females than males in choral programs, enrollment numbers do not ensure that choral programs are meeting females’ musical, developmental, and personal needs. In addition, discussion of the documentary Riot Acts provides insight into voice change from the perspective of professional musicians who identify as transgender. The chapter ends with ideas for working with changing voices, especially with regard to approaching choral repertoire.

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Introduction

Thinking Outside the Voice Box ◽

10.1093/oso/9780190916374.003.0001 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Bridget Sweet

Keyword(s):

Environmental Conditions ◽

Music Teachers ◽

Endocrine System ◽

Adolescent Females ◽

Whole Body ◽

Voice Change ◽

Body Experience ◽

Adolescent Voice ◽

The Voice

The book describes voice change as a whole-body experience for adolescents, both female and male, which, while not always easy, should not scare music teachers away from working with adolescent singers. Many aspects of adolescent voice change are addressed throughout this book, but there may be exceptions to what is discussed. Everyone has an endocrine system that contains glands to produce hormones, but this system is sometimes influenced or disrupted by biological makeup, environmental conditions, or malnourishment; in addition, some people are diagnosed with atypical chromosomal structures. As a result, it is acknowledged that not every person on the planet does, in fact, experience a voice change. The focus of Thinking Outside the Voice Box remains on adolescent females and males who are engaged in the singing process and experiencing symptoms and expectations of a “typical” adolescent voice change.

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