The Effect of Vibrato on the Pitch-Matching Accuracy of Certain and Uncertain Singers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of vibrato on the pitch-matching accuracy of certain and uncertain singers. Subjects were in kindergarten through Grade 3 (N = 200). They responded to three different models singing a descending minor third from G to E above middle C: (1) a child model with 100% pitch accuracy; (2) an adult female model singing with vibrato and 79.53% pitch accuracy; and (3) the same adult female model singing nonvibrato and with 100%) pitch accuracy. Results demonstrated significant differences between percentages of correct responses by certain (M = 78.48 %) and uncertain singers (M = 40.89%}) and among correct responses to the three models. There were more correct responses to the nonvibrato model than to either the vibrato or child model Further analyses demonstrated that certain singers seemed to produce a high percentage of correct responses regardless of sex, grade level, or model presented. In contrast, uncertain singers | responded most correctly to the nonvibrato model and least correctly to the child model. In | addition, responses to the child model presented first were less accurate than those to either I the second or third presentations. Accurate responses to the vibrato model seemed to be greater in third position than in second and greater in second position than in first. Responses to the nonvibrato model were the most consistent across the three positions as well as more accurate than responses to the other two models.