Understanding of the Western Classical Singing in Medical Point of View

서양식 성악발성법의 의학적 이해

Western classical singing voices are different from those of pop song singer's singing voices as well as traditional Korean singing such as Pansori. We anlalysed the singing voices from three different categories with using free application programs available at the usual smart phones : sound level meter and Spectral View Analyzer and fiberoptic rhinolaryngoscopic evaluation. The intensity of voice produced by a classical western singer was 11 dB louder than that produced by a pop song singer. Source sound, glottic sound, as well as harmonic sound and singing resonant sound (Singer's formant) are much more prominent. When evaluated under video-rhinolaryngoscopy during singing, the resonance cavity especially oropharyngeal cavity and hypopharyngeal cavity are widely opened during singing of the western classical singer than those of the traditional Korean singer's singing. Difference of singing methods including producing the glottal sound, respiration and resonance are discussed. Possible explanation of development of 'Singer's Formant' is discussed.