VOCAL HEALTH IN CHORUS SINGERS WITHOUT VOCAL GUIDELINES

Abstract

Introduction: The performance of singing requires knowledge and practices to the maintenance of voice health. Many amateur chorus are made up of amateur singers who, due to lack of voice guidance, may present complaints related to the voice and inadequate vocal habits, which may affect singing performance as well as the singer’s quality of life. Objective: To check vocal care adopted by chorus singers who have never attended a course on vocal guidelines. Methods: Twenty-three chorus singers have been researched. They take part in three different companies from Recife, and have been in chorus singing for at least one year. Results: From the results analyzed, it was possible to conclude that the most occurring complaint was hoarseness after performances (56.52%), and the most occurring vocal abuse was the act of hawking (65.22%). In addition, 30.43% of singers reported making use of drops as a palliative for dysphonia. Breathing was reported by 65.21% of singers as inadequate to singing. Only 34.78% perform hydration satisfactorily. Almost all the singers (95.65%) perform vocal warm-up, however, many do not realize the vocal cool-down (13.04%). Conclusion: Were identified several factors that hinder the maintenance of vocal health, in spite of taking some important aids such as vocal warm-up. DESCRIPTORS: Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. Voice Disorders. Orientation.