All voice practitioners use informal perceptual skills in their work, as they identify aspects of a speaker’s or singer’s voice. ‘Perception of a person’s voice is at the heart of evaluating and working with patients with voice disorders.’ (Gerratt et al 1993), and although acoustic software now offers increasingly valuable information in voice work, many therapists are still likely to feel that ‘the clinically well trained ear will always be the primary and most important means of analysis’ (Hammarberg et al 1980).  Clinical voice therapy has long used formal perceptual analysis, which ‘requires the listener to document aspects of the speaker’s voice in some systematic way’ (Carding et al 2001). Its use is much rarer in voice coaching and singing teaching, even though a perceptual voice profile can give valuable insights into a holistic understanding of a person’s voice. 

The Voice Skills Perceptual Profile was developed for those working in spoken voice coaching, singing teaching and voice pathology/therapy (Shewell 2009). It offers a structured, systematic way of organizing information about vocal quality and use, using eight core parameters; body, breath, channel, phonation, resonance, pitch, loudness and articulation. The protocol allows the recording of both quantitative information for pre and post voice work evaluation, and qualitative information that leads to an increased understanding of both vocal function and the action needed. The VSPP has been taught extensively to varied voice practitioners in the UK and is well received and increasingly widely used.

Workshop participants will be introduced to both the shorter Voice Skills Framework and the full version of the VSPP. Examples of their use with an actor, singer and dysphonic teacher will be given, and participants will explore the use in a simple practical voice assessment exercise. 

Carding P., Carlson E., Epstein R., Mathieson L. and Shewell C. (2001). Evaluation of Voice Quality. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders. 36, 127-134.

Gerratt, B., Kreiman, J., Antonanzas-Barroso and Berke, G. (1993). Perceptual Evaluation of Voice Quality: Review, tutorial and a framework for future research. Journal of Speech and Hearing Research. 36, 21-40.

Hammarberg B. et al. (1980). Perceptual and acoustic correlates of abnormal voice qualities. Acta Otolaryngol 90. 441-451.

Shewell C. (2009). Voice Work: Art and Science in Changing Voices. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.