High speed video observations of vocal fold adductory kinematics while playing a clarinet
Channel: Jennifer Wenli Chen
Date: 14/05/2020

A Preliminary Investigation of of Vocal Fold Kinematics During Clarinet Playing Using Flexible High-Speed Video
 
Wind Instrumentalists have been known to have hearing disorders, temporomandibular joint disorders, lip disorders and orofacial changes over the course of years. In addition, several reports exist of voice problems in woodwind players who are also singers (Ocker, et al. Gallivan et al. 2006). Gallivan et al. (2006) observed that, while other supraglottic factors may contribute to voice disorders, vocal fatigue and respiratory disorders, laryngeal examination with stroboscopy showed no complete adduction of the vocal folds (VF). However, Mukai (1989) reported that the woodwind instrument is played with a narrowed glottis and partially adducted VF and thus may affect phonation.
Flexible High-speed videoendoscopy (fHSV) allows movements of the larynx and VF to be captured at ultrafast rate (Woo, 2017, Naghibolhosseini, 2018). The purposes of this preliminary study were to investigate flexible high-speed technology and VF kinematics in woodwind instrumentalists. Specifically, this study recorded and analyzed the VF motions during phonation and playing in experienced clarinet musicians.
Method
Two experienced adult clarinet musicians participated in flexible endoscopy while playing the clarinet and vocalizing. fHSV system captured images at a rate of 4000-frames per second. fHSV and audio signals were synchronized. Participants played B-4 and B-5 produced with legato, sudden, soft and loud onsets with the clarinet; they vocally produced the same tasks.
Results
Motion of the vocal folds was seen during all samples recorded. In all cases, the VF did not show full adduction. However, HSV demonstrated that positioning of the VF for clarinet production was different than for vocalization. Vibratory motion was observed for all samples with the loud and the sudden onset samples showing greater adductory motion than the legato samples.
Conclusion
The use of HSV demonstrates the non-adducted motion of the VF during clarinet playing. The incomplete adducted postures during playing differed from those of phonation.
 
Thomas Murry, PhD, CCC-SLP, Professor, Loma Linda University Health.
 
Wenli Chen, MS CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist, Private Practice
 
Stephanie Zacharias, PhD, Research Associate, Mayo Clinic Arizona
 
David Lott, MD Director Of Voice Center, Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)/Head and Neck Surgery , Mayo Clinic Arizona