Starting Pitch Selection is Precise in Exploratory Study of Collegiate Nonmusic Majors

Abstract

Starting pitch selection—whether intentional or habitual or otherwise— has been theorized to vary according to multiple variables. The purpose of this study was to explore starting pitch selection in undergraduate nonmusic major singers by using four well known songs and nonsinging tasks. Participants were actively singing in a college choir and majoring in fields outside of music. Performances indicated very small deviations in the median starting pitch for each criterion song (100–200 cents). Data indicated discrimination in starting pitch selection between songs. Active singers may place songs in the middle portion of the vocal range compared with the tendency toward lower range in nonsingers in previous research. A history of voice lessons was significantly associated with a positive response to a follow-up questionnaire item “I chose an intentional range for my voice.”