Journal of Voice Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 45-56 © 1995 RavenPress. Ltd.. New York Physiological Characteristics of the Supported Singing Voice. A Preliminary Study Barbara Griffin, Peak Woo, Raymond Colton, Janina Casper, and David Brewer Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences, State University of New York Health Science Center, Syracuse, New York, U.S.A. Summary: The purpose of this study was to develop a definition of the sup- ported singing voice based on physiological characteristics by comparing the subjects' concepts of a supported voice with objective measurements of their supported and unsupported voice. This preliminary report pi'esents findings based on data from eight classically trained singers. Subjects answered ques- tions about their concepts of the characteristics of the supported singing voice and how it is produced. Samples of the supported and unsupported singing voice produced at low, medium, and high pitches at a comfortable loudness level were collected for acoustic, spectral, airflow, electroglottographic, air volume, and stroboscopic analyses. Significant differences between the sup- ported and unsupported voice were found for sound pressure level (SPL), peak airflow, subglottal pressure (Ps), glottal open time, and frequency of the fourth formant (F4). Mean flow and F2 frequency differences were sex and pitch related. Males adjusted laryngeal configuration to produce supported voice, whereas glottal configuration differences were greater in females. Breathing patterns were variable and not significantly different between supported and unsupported voice. Subjects in this study believe that the supported singing voice is resonant, clear, and easy to manage and is produced by correct breath management. Results of data analysis show that the supported singing voice has different spectral characteristics from and higher SPL, peak airflow, and Ps than the unsupported voice. Singers adjust laryngeal and/or glottal configura- tion to account for these changes, but no significant differences in breathing activity were found. Key Words: Voice support--Breath management-- Subglottal pressure--Formant--Spectral analysis. Singers and voice teachers often refer to the clas- sically trained singing voice as a well supported voice. The concept of voice support is confusing to students of singing and difficult for voice teachers to explain. Teachers and singers disagree about the definition of the supported voice and how it is pro- duced. References from literature on singing de- Accepted December 7, 1993. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Ms. B. Griffin at Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences, SUNY Health Science Center, 156 Weiskotten Hall, 766 Irving Ave., Syracuse, NY 13210, U.S.A. This work was presented at the 22nd Annual Symposium, Care of the Professional Voice, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A., June 9, 1993. scribe support as breath management, "having ad- equate breath pressure," or "sustaining the vocal- ized sound with the breath pressure" (1--4). Miller (5) uses the term "appoggio," which incorporates resonance factors with breath management. A 1989 survey of voice teachers who were mem- bers of the National Association of Teachers of Singing reported 93 unique directives that respon- dents considered most effective for teaching breath support (1). The highest-ranked directives dealt with proper body alignment and abdominal breath- ing. In another study of verbal directives regarding support concepts, voice students performed singing tasks most favorable when directed to "sing 45