On the development of singing real-time visual displays for voice therapy

Previous work with singers in training has suggested that simple displays of a small number of analysis parameters are generally the most effective when learning performance skills, and the displays employed have been implemented along these lines. In particular, the system makes available analyses of individual parameters plotted against time that can be used singly or in any combination, depending on the specific vocal activity being supported. The displays implemented include: acoustic pressure waveform, fundamental frequency, spectrogram, spectrum, spectral ratio, vocal tract area, and minimum, mean or maximum vocal area against time. Experience with two singing teachers suggests that the use of such displays is beneficial for learning vocal skills. The paper discusses the potential application of such displays in the speech therapy clinic. It is informed via consultations with speech and language therapists in the Yorkshire area. The goal of this work is to evaluate which of the existing displays could be useful in the clinical setting, as well as to make proposals for new display formats and/or new analyses that might be employed in such a clinical real-time visual display system in the future.