The Effect of Different Preparatory Conducting Gestures on Breathing Behavior and Voice Quality of Choral Singers.

Objective: The breathing technique is a determining factor for the singer's sound quality and consequently crucial for the choral sound. However, very little is known about possible influences of the conductor's preparatory gesture on the way choral singers inhale before the beginning of a piece (respectively every subsequent phrase). The conducting literature does not discriminate between out- and inward preparatory gestures and even describes them as equivalent, but previous studies suggest that singers assign different types of inhalation to different preparatory gestures.

Breathing with the Conductor? A Prospective, Quasi-Experimental Exploration of Breathing Habits in Choral Singers.

Objective: The breathing technique is a determining factor for the sound quality of the singers' vocal production and thus crucial for the choral sound. The aim of this study was to examine choral singers' awareness of breathing techniques and habits while singing and to identify potential correlations between the breathing technique and the preparatory gestures of the conductor.

Methods: In our prospective, quasi-experimental study, 720 choral singers answered a 25-item anonymous online survey which focused on demographic information, musical and choral experience, information on choir (size, type, repertoire) and conductor (age, gender, level of expertise).