2006 Volume 29 Issue 3 Pages 77-86
A cross-sectional study on vocal pitch matching abilities, pitch discrimination abilities, and skills at the separation of a singing voice from a speaking voice of first to sixth grade elementary school students (n=437) was conducted to explore students' vocal pitch accuracies in singing, and associated abilities and skills. The following results were obtained: (1) Second grade students may develop vocal pitch matching abilities significantly. Second and third grade students may develop pitch discrimination abilities significantly. (2) There were hardly any differences among percentages of the levels of vocal pitch matching ability from fourth to sixth grade students. (3) Students with a high level of vocal pitch matching ability had both significantly more accurate pitch discrimination abilities and higher skills at the separation of a singing voice from a speaking voice than students with a low level of vocal pitch matching ability. (4) Regarding students with a low level of vocal pitch matching ability, there were many students who had both inaccurate pitch discrimination abilities and low skills at the separation of a singing voice from a speaking voice, and some students who had one of these two features. (5) Regarding students with a low level of vocal pitch matching ability, there were many first and second grade students who had both inaccurate pitch discrimination abilities and low skills at the separation of a singing voice from a speaking voice. There were many third and fourth grade students who had one of these two features. Finally, there were many fifth and sixth grade students who had both accurate pitch discrimination abilities and high skills at the separation of a singing voice from a speaking voice.
