Vocalization training method

• US 9,564,061 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2011
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kennesaw State University (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Kennesaw State University (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Kirkpatrick, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): HULL, JAMES B
• Application Number:
  US13/823,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20130177885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,972 Days
• Field of Search: 434/247
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/00 Teaching music metronomes G04F5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/04 Speaking with audible presentation of the material to be studied G09B5/04

Abstract

A method and software supporting the method that improves the perceived quality of a vocalist'"'"'s and/or singer'"'"'s spoken or sung tone by teaching how to self-lower the larynx and maintain the lower laryngeal position while vocalizing and singing. An exemplary vocal instruction method comprising instructing a vocalist to self-monitor electromyographic data during singing, the data provided from an electromyograph device, the device comprising electrodes attached to a skin surface covering the vocalist'"'"'s larynx, translating the data to a graphic display indicating to the vocalist the relative tension or flaccidity of the vocalist'"'"'s laryngeal depressor muscles, instructing the vocalist to perform at least one physiological and/or anatomical function sufficient to result in lowered real-time tension of the laryngeal depressor muscle assessed by the electromyo-graphic device.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer to perform a method of using biofeedback to instruct a user how to maintain a lower laryngeal position while vocalizing by increasing electromyographic (EMG) and surface electromyographic (sEMG) data received from the laryngeal depressor muscles, the program comprising:

instructions for receiving electronic signals representing real-time EMG and sEMG data of the user;

instructions for generating instructions to the user, based upon the received EMG and sEMG data, to at least double the EMG and sEMG data received from the laryngeal depressor muscles during an ensuing vocalization exercise;

instructions for generating a display to the user of the generated instructions;

instructions for converting subsequent EMG and sEMG data received from the user in response to the generated instructions during an ensuing vocalization exercise into a real-time sensory readout;

instructions for receiving audio signals of the user during the ensuing vocalization exercise and converting the audio signals to spectrographic audio data;

instructions for receiving video signals of the user during the ensuing vocalization exercise;

instructions for coordinating recording of the subsequent EMG data, subsequent sEMG data, spectrographic audio data, and video signals;

instructions for generating graphical information based on the subsequent EMG data, subsequent sEMG data, spectrographic audio data, and video signals received from the user; and

instructions for displaying the generated graphical information to the user.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 further comprising instructions for exporting the EMG data, sEMG data, spectrographic audio data, and video signals to an external device.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the EMG and sEMG data received from laryngeal depressor muscles of the user upon which the instructions for generating are based is an initial range of EMG and sEMG data received from laryngeal depressor muscles of the user as previously measured between rest and vocalization of a sustained pitch.

4. An apparatus for using biofeedback to instruct a user how to maintain a lower laryngeal position while vocalizing by increasing the electromyographic (EMG) and surface electromyographic (sEMG) data received from the laryngeal depressor muscles, the apparatus comprising:

an electromyographic device configured to detect real-time EMG and sEMG data, and to convert the EMG and sEMG data to electrical signals readable by a computer;

a computer configured;

to receive said electrical signals to generate instructions to the user, based upon EMG and sEMG data received by the electromyographic device from laryngeal depressor muscles of the user, to at least double the EMG and sEMG data received by the electromyographic device from the laryngeal depressor muscles of the user during an ensuing vocalization exercise;

to generate a display of the generated instructions to the user; and

to convert electrical signals for the EMG and sEMG data received by the electromyographic device from the laryngeal depressor muscles of the user to a real-time sensory readout;

a vibrometer configured to record sound of the user, and convert the recorded sound to spectrographic audio data, frequency data, pitch data, and resonance data which are readable by the computer;

a focus meter configured to receive the resonance data and provide the user with qualitative analysis of a harmonic spectrum of the recorded sound through visual feedback; and

a display configured to receive the spectrographic audio data, pitch data and frequency data, and provide the user with real time visual feedback based on the received spectrographic audio data, pitch data and frequency data.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising

an EMG laryngeal movement meter, which provides visual biofeedback regarding laryngeal movement;

a vocalist interface configured to allow (i) the user to determine the extent the user'"'"'s muscles are altered, (ii) the user to adjust a scale for displaying the graphical information, and (iii) the user to enter the user'"'"'s demographic data;

the display further configured to show an animation of a larynx moving up and down based on the sEMG data;

the display further configured to show a picture of a human bust with dots delineating placement of the sEMG mechanism;

a video recorder; and

the computer further configured to (i) receive video signals from the video recorder, and (ii) coordinate the video signals with the EMG, sEMG, and the spectrographic audio data for future playback.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a tension reliever configured to use the real-time EMG data to alert the user when the tension reliever detects tension.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising an interface configured to allow the user to determine the extent the user'"'"'s muscles are altered, to allow the user to adjust a scale for displaying the graphical information, or to allow the user to enter user demographic data.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the EMG and sEMG data received from laryngeal depressor muscles of the user upon which the instructions to at least double EMG and sEMG data are based is an initial range of EMG and sEMG data received by the electromyographic device from laryngeal depressor muscles of the user previously measured between rest and vocalization of a sustained pitch.

9. A computer-implemented vocalization system comprising:

a microphone;

a display; and

a computer comprising a processor, a memory within which code for execution by the processor is stored, and instructions for analyzing vocalization data obtained from a vocalist, the instructions comprising instructions for;

obtaining visual feedback and qualitative analysis of a vibrato component of a vocalized tone sampled by a vibrometer component;

obtaining visual feedback and qualitative analysis of a harmonic spectrum of a vocalized tone sampled by a focus meter component; and

obtaining visual feedback and qualitative analysis of the bioelectric potential of laryngeal depressor muscles of a vocalist sampled by an electromyographic (EMG) component operatively connected to a plurality of computer-connected surface electromyography electrodes;

wherein the instructions for obtaining visual feedback and qualitative analysis of said bioelectric potential are configured, based upon an initially measured range of bioelectric potential of the laryngeal depressor muscles of the vocalist, to generate instructions to the vocalist to at least double that initially measured range of bioelectric potential of the laryngeal depressor muscles during an ensuing vocalization exercise, and to display the generated instructions upon the display, whereby the vocalist cultivates a lower laryngeal position by increasing a subsequently measured range of bioelectric potential of the laryngeal depressor muscles of the vocalist toward the at least doubled initially measured range of bioelectric potential of the laryngeal depressor muscles in response to the generated instructions during the ensuing vocalization exercise.