University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

An exploration of vibrato and performer perception in vocal jazz singing

Saeger, Lauren

Content Files
SAEGER-DISSERTATION-2020.pdf

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/109336

Description

Title
An exploration of vibrato and performer perception in vocal jazz singing
Author(s)
Saeger, Lauren
Issue Date
2020-09-14
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Sweet, Bridget
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Carrillo, Tito
Committee Member(s)
  • Bottalico, Pasquale
  • Magee, Gayle
Department of Study
Music
Discipline
Music
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
A.Mus.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Date of Ingest
2021-03-05T21:36:48Z
Keyword(s)
  • jazz
  • vibrato
  • vocal
  • singing
  • perception
Abstract
Much research has been done concerning the use of vibrato in solo and choral singing, which shows that there is a disconnect between perception and actuality concerning the healthy usage of vocal vibrato. While vocal jazz practitioners agree on the proper stylistic use of vibrato in the genre, there has been very little in-depth scholarly investigation concerning its use in the vocal jazz style. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of rate, extent, and duration of vibrato on vocal jazz singing, as well as performer perception, in order to provide vocal jazz musicians a better understanding of the nuances and processes of producing and manipulating vibrato. The guiding research questions were: (1) Is there a difference between the vibrato rate, extent, and duration in solo versus ensemble vocal jazz singing? (2) Does rate, extent, and duration vary between a ballad and a medium-tempo swing tune? and (3) Are student perceptions of their vibratos accurate? Thirty female undergraduate singers currently participating in a vocal jazz ensemble were recorded singing four excerpts (two solo and two choral). Subsequently, they answered questions concerning their perceptions of their vibrato extent, rate and duration of each excerpt. Four themes emerged from the participant feedback: vibrato control, proper use of vibrato in an ensemble, vibrato in solo singing, and vibrato duration. The findings of this study validate vocal jazz instructors’ belief that the use of vibrato in vocal jazz differs from that of their classical counterparts.
Graduation Semester
2020-12
Type of Resource
Thesis
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/109336
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2020 Lauren B Saeger

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Graduate Dissertations and Theses at Illinois PRIMARY
Graduate Theses and Dissertations at Illinois
Dissertations and Theses [Graduate College] - Music