Evaluation of the Vocal Tract with Real Time MRI in Professional Male Altos

Matthias Echternach¹, Louisa Traser², Bernhard Richter¹, Michael Markl³

Aim of this study was to analyse vocal tract shapes in male alto register functions. Dynamic real time MRI of 8 frames per second was used to analyze the vocal tract profile in 7 professional male altos who sang on the vowel /a/ an ascending and descending scale from G3 to E4. The scale included their register transition from modal register falsetto. Register transitions from modal register to stage falsetto were associated with increased lip opening, jaw retraction, elevation and back positioning of the tongue, pharynx narrowing, uvula elevation, drop of larynx height and tilting of the larynx.