An exploration of vibrato and performer perception in vocal jazz singing

Saeger, Lauren

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

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

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

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

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2020 Lauren B Saeger

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