The Effectiveness Of Vocal Function Exercises (Vfes) on Vocal Measures with Healthy Adult Male Trained Singers

Dr. Joseph Stemple created Vocal Function Exercises (VFEs) to help strengthen and stabilize the vocal musculature. The exercises were designed as a therapy technique to assist those with voice disorders. There is little research on the study of VFEs in normal healthy individuals and even less research on the effects of VFEs on healthy adult trained singers. Trained singers have the technical foundation to perform VFEs properly and could possibly benefit and improve upon their strength and muscle tone due to their established skills. The purpose of this study is to determine if Dr. Stemple’s VFEs are a technique that could be used by healthy adult male trained singers to increase their maximum phonation frequency range and maximum phonation time, and to decrease jitter and shimmer. The study consisted of 3 male participants who were healthy adult trained singers from the Fresno State Music Department who were enrolled in voice lessons with a professor from the Music Department. The study utilized a single-subject, multiple baseline across participants research design. The study consisted of baseline, treatment, and maintenance phases. During the treatment phase, participants were required to perform VFEs at home twice a day, two times each, and to meet with the researcher once a week for probe measurements. The results from this study are anticipated to enhance the vocal quality of established trained singers.