Social distancing and choral singing during the Covid-19 pandemic: challenges and vocal symptoms of chorists.
Diego Henrique da Cruz Martinho, Ana Carolina Constantini, Elisabeth Amin and 1 others
PMID 37878976WHAT IT FOUND
Older choristers reported more voice problems during remote rehearsals.
Younger choristers reported fewer throat symptoms but more anxiety about singing alone. Both groups struggled with concentrating on video calls and reduced practice time.
Key findings
01Chorists aged 55 and older reported significantly increased scores for having voice problems, vocal fatigue, and day-to-day voice variability during remote rehearsals compared to in-person.
02Chorists aged 18 to 54 reported significantly reduced scores for hoarseness, throat pain, and throat infections during the same period.
03Concentration during videoconference rehearsals was reported as harder by the majority of singers in both age groups.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study relied on self-report and retrospective comparison, so participants had to remember how their voice felt before the pandemic. The sample was restricted to amateur singers in Brazil who had internet access and continued rehearsing, which may not represent professional singers or those who stopped singing. The study excluded individuals who had been diagnosed with COVID-19, potentially removing a group that might have experienced specific vocal sequelae. It did not account for other vocal demands participants might have had outside the choir, such as work-related voice use.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the reduction in throat symptoms in younger singers as evidence that remote rehearsals are beneficial for vocal health. This group reported no significant improvement in general voice problems, and the reduction in throat pain may be due to broader pandemic hygiene measures rather than the singing format itself.