• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.59-69
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• 2024

Due to differences in singing styles and voice production between classical and popular music singers, their knowledge and practice regarding vocal hygiene may differ. This study compared the knowledge and practice of vocal hygiene among 121 university undergraduate students (58 classical and 63 popular music vocal majors). Additionally, the correlation between the level of knowledge and practice of vocal hygiene and the subjective voice evaluation was examined. The results revealed that both knowledge and practice of vocal hygiene were significantly higher in classical than popular music vocal majors, and that vocal hygiene practice was significantly higher than knowledge in the entire group. In addition, there was a weak positive correlation between knowledge and practice of vocal hygiene; and a weak negative correlation between vocal hygiene practice and subjective voice evaluation. This study suggests that popular music vocal majors have relatively lower levels of knowledge and practice in vocal hygiene than classical music vocal majors. It also highlights the need to provide tailored vocal hygiene education programs for both classical and popular music vocal majors, as they show low levels of knowledge and practice in certain aspects of vocal hygiene.