The Adolescent Female Changing Voice: A Phenomenological Investigation

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate the experience of female voice change from the perspective of female middle and high school choral students. The study was guided by two questions: How do adolescent female choir students experience voice change? What is the essence of the experience of voice change for middle school and high school females in choir? Co-researchers included two students in Grades 6 through 12 (14 students total) at the Durham School of the Arts in Durham, North Carolina; the female singers demonstrated a variety of voice change characteristics, from vocal breathiness to limited vocal range. Data collected in November, January, and April included written responses to an open set of questions that were discussed thoroughly during a corresponding interview. Analysis revealed three core themes: (a) Phonation Experiences, (b) Emotional Experiences, and (c) Contexts of Singing. The essence of the experience of female voice change was that vulnerability and fear of embarrassment determined all use of the females' singing voices, resulting in risk assessment for each singing situation and setting.