The BioVisualSpeech Serious Game with Voice Exercises for People with Parkinson's Disease with Hypokinetic Dysarthria

Publisher Copyright: © 2022 International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) and IOS Press.People with Parkinson's disease (PD) can have dysarthria, a voice disorder that affects speech intelligibility. To fight this disorder people may resort to speech and language therapy. Unfortunately, weekly speech therapy sessions may not be enough, because to achieve and maintain good voice quality, intensive training is required. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic brought attention to the need for alternative speech therapy treatments that complement face-to-face appointments. Here, we propose a serious therapy game to improve voice loudness that can be used for intensive therapy or when face-to-face appointments are not possible. The game integrates three voice exercises used in speech therapy sessions for people with PD and aims to provide motivation for patients to perform the exercises on a daily basis. This application evaluates the vocal intensity, vocal frequency and maximum phonation time, offering real-time visual feedback. It also allows pathologists to customize the exercises difficulty to the needs of each patient.publishersversionpublishe

A dynamic difficulty adjustment model for dysphonia therapy games

CMUP-ERI/TIC/0033/2014Studies on childhood dysphonia have revealed considerable rates for voice disorders in 4 – 12 year-old children. The sustained vowel exercise is widely used as a technique in the vocal (re)education process. However this exercise can become tedious after a short practice. Here, we propose a novel dynamic difficulty adjustment model to be used in a serious game with the sustained vowel exercise to motivate children on practicing this exercise often. The model automatically adapts the difficulty of the challenges in response to the child’s performance. The model is not exclusive to this game and can be used in other games for dysphonia treatment. In order to measure the child’s performance, the model uses parameters that are relevant to the therapy treatment. The proposed model is based on the flow model in order to balance the difficulty of the challenges with the child’s skills.publishersversionpublishe

The development and implementation of coloratura technique in selected Rossini arias for mezzo-soprano

The mezzo-soprano arias in Rossini operas have captivated audiences for the last two centuries with their impressive and extensive vocal gymnastics, or coloratura. A strong coloratura technique is necessary for the successful performance of Rossini arias by mezzo sopranos. This dissertation seeks to establish a systematic method of developing coloratura technique and implementing it in seven Rossini arias. An original correlation is made between coloratura development and the Accent Method. Historical and modern pedagogical resources affirm the practical importance of a systematic technique based on abdicostal breath support for singing, upon which the Accent Method is based. Facets of the Accent Method as previously applied to the singing voice will be applied specifically to the development of coloratura. This method has proven effective in building vocal stamina, pitch accuracy, and speed, among other qualities necessary in coloratura development. Various means of applying this method to the melismatic choices of the mezzo-soprano are then explored, along with multiple interpretations of Rossini arias by current and past performing artists. Examples of appropriate melismas are given, along with a series of technical vocal factors for each mezzo-soprano to consider.Thesis (D.A.)School of Musi

BioVisualSpeech: Deployment of an Interactive Platform for Speech Therapy Sessions With Children

Sigmatism is a speech sound disorder (SSD) that prevents people from correctly pro- nouncing sibilant consonant sounds ([Z], [z], [S] and [s]). If left untreated, it can negatively impact children’s ability to communicate and socialize. Parents are advised to seek speech therapy for their kids whenever they are not reaching the milestones that are expected of their age, and while the exercises employed in speech therapy sessions are vital for the treatment of these disorders, they can also become repetitive. BioVisualSpeech is a research project that explores ways to provide biofeedback in speech therapy sessions through the usage of serious games. An example of this is the BioVisualSpeech Therapy Support Platform, an interactive tool that contains many types of games in one place, and which children can play in therapy sessions and at home by using the computer’s microphone to capture their voices. However, because the platform was developed in an academic context, it was important for us to adapt this system to the context of real life in collaboration with speech-language pathologists (SLPs). To achieve this, we set the goal of deploying the platform to SLPs’ computers. For that we first reengineered the system to turn it into an in-session focused application, instead of a system where children can practice with SLPs and at home. In addition, we also integrated Windows Speech Recognition into the platform, made the system easier to install and capable of collecting data from players, such as voice productions that could be used in the future to train better classification models, and other objective parameters concerning game performance. Our deployment with SLPs was accompanied by the questionnaires, documentation and data collection protocol needed to proceed with: firstly, the further validation of the platform along with two of its games and, secondly, the design of a user study focused on gathering voice productions from children. In the end, not only did we get promising results regarding the validation of the platform, but SLPs also got the opportunity to own a system that can continue to be used, and distributed by future researchers, even after the termination of this project.O sigmatismo é uma perturbação da fala que impede quem sofre deste de pronunciar corretamente as consoantes sibilantes ([Z], [z], [S] and [s]). Se deixado por tratar, este pode ter um impacto negativo na habilidade das crianças de comunicar e socializar. Pais destas crianças são aconselhados a procurar consultas de terapia da fala para os seus filhos, e enquanto que os exercícios utilizados durante as sessões de terapia da fala são vitais para o tratamento de perturbações, estes também correm o risco de se tornarem repetitivos. BioVisualSpeech é um projeto de investigação que explora formas de fornecer bio- feedback em sessões de terapia da fala através de jogos sérios. Um exemplo destes é a Plataforma de Apoio à Terapia da Fala da BioVisualSpeech, um sistema que contém vários tipos de jogos que as crianças podem jogar em sessões de terapia e em casa, utilizando para isso o microfone do computador para capturarem as suas vozes. Contudo, visto que a plataforma foi desenvolvida num contexto académico, era importante adaptá-la ao contexto do mundo real em colaboração com terapeutas da fala e da linguagem (TFLs). Assim, o objetivo desta dissertação foi implantar a plataforma para os computadores de TFLs. Para isso foi primeiro preciso mudar o foco da plataforma de modo a se tornar numa aplicação de apoio às sessões de terapia, exclusivamente. Para além disto, também se integrou o Sistema de Reconhecimento de Voz do Windows na plataforma, tornou-se o sistema mais fácil de instalar e capaz de recolher dados dos jogadores, como produções de voz que podem no futuro ser utilizadas para treinar melhores classificadores de fala, e outros parâmetros objetivos sobre os jogos. A implantação com TFLs foi acompanhada pelos questionários, documentação e protocolo necessários para proceder com: primeiro, a validação da plataforma e dois dos seus jogos e, segundo, o desenho de um estudo focado na recolha de produções de voz de crianças. No final, não só foram obtidos resultados promissores no que toca à validação da plataforma, mas os TFLs também tiveram a oportunidade de ficar com um sistema que pode continuar a ser utilizado mesmo depois deste projeto acabar

A performer\u27s guide to Ross Lee Finney\u27s song cycle Chamber Music

Ross Lee Finney (1906-1997), significant American composer and pedagogue, published five works for solo voice and piano within his catalogue of genres and styles. Though composed in 1951, Finney’s setting of Chamber Music, to James Joyce’s texts by the same title, remained unpublished until 1985. This song cycle, Finney’s last published solo vocal work, will be the focus of this document and subsequent lecture recital. The purpose of this study will be to examine seventeen of the thirty-six songs from the cycle and provide performance suggestions. The written document is comprised of five chapters: Chapter One provides biographical information and commentary on the compositional style of Ross Lee Finney; Chapter Two provides biographical information and background information specific to the literary Chamber Music; Chapter Three presents an introduction and overview of the musical setting of Chamber Music; Chapter Four contains a detailed examination of seventeen selected songs from the cycle as a guide for performers ; and finally, Chapter 5 will draw conclusions based on this analysis and include comments on the use of this cycle in recital programming as well as its pedagogical values. A Bibliography and five Appendices will be included to provide additional information on Chamber Music, Ross Lee Finney, and his compositions

Voice, the preacher\u27s instrument

https://place.asburyseminary.edu/ecommonsatsdissertations/2364/thumbnail.jp

Volume 54, Number 09 (September 1936)

Good Humor in Music: Do Composers Tend Toward the Sombre Colors, or Do They Inclinde Toward the Gay? Radio and Music (interview with David Sarnoff) Music at Harvard: From a Historical Review Memories of William Mason and His Friends Whetting the Children\u27s Appetite for Music A-440 by National Broadcast Origin of Sousa\u27s Name: Ridiculous and False Stories about the Ancestry of John Philip Sousa Which Should be Corrected by Etude Readers Making Tempo Rubato Understandable When Should Piano Study Be Commenced? A Question Asked by Thousands Roll of Honor Finger Independence as Applied to Bach\u27s Fugues How They Gave Early Concerts Publisher and Composer Marking Lessons Stimulates Interest in Practice Empty-the-Basket Game Strengthening the Finger Tipshttps://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/etude/1847/thumbnail.jp