Objective
Marking techniques are used by singers during rehearsals to reduce fatigue, minimize strain, prevent overuse injuries, and preserve the voice for performance. Marking strategies include reduced volume, octave displacement, lighter registration, selective singing, speaking, whispering, or silent mouthing. These methods vary widely across voice types and lack standardization; therefore, the current study’s purpose is to define marking techniques used by professional opera singers across voice types and to analyze such techniques by the Estill Voice Model (EVM).
Methods / Design
An online survey was disseminated to professional opera singers. In the survey, participants self-reported demographic information and marking strategies they typically use. In addition, participants were asked to upload a 1-minute video involving 30-seconds of an opera aria sung in full voice and 30-seconds of the same section of the aria sung using marking techniques. The videos will be analyzed using EVM by experts holding various EVM certification levels. Through consensus expert agreement, the 13 EVM Figures, linked to specific anatomical structures and physiological options, will be defined for each video submission separated by full voice singing vs marking.
Results
Preliminary survey results indicate that the most commonly reported marking strategies are reducing vocal volume and singing passages down the octave. These findings align with the general perception that singers prioritize minimizing vocal load during rehearsals. Additional analysis will map these strategies to specific Estill Figures and Options, providing an objective classification system. The study also anticipates identifying patterns across voice types.
Conclusions
Current marking practices rely on vague descriptors such as “lighter” or “softer,” which offer little guidance and risk ineffective vocal preservation. This lack of clarity can lead to vocal strain and potential injury, threatening career longevity and success. By defining marking techniques used by professionals and applying such techniques to EVM, communication and training can be enhanced by linking implicit prompts (e.g., quieter voice, lighter sound) to explicit voice anatomy and physiology (e.g., True Vocal Fold Body- Cover Figure Thin Option). Ultimately, the long-term goal is to establish a standardized, evidence-based marking approach that promotes vocal health and ensures long-term performance sustainability.