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Becoming and being an opera singer: Health, personality and skills
Stockholm University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology.
2005 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

The present thesis explores factors and processes associated with the artistic profession and development of opera singers. The profession of opera singers has a long story deriving its origin in early 1600s in Italy. What is performed on opera stages today is written in the musical scores in the 18th and 19th century. The question arises how the modern opera singers live, learn and excel in their contemporary pursuit in order to meet the high demands on performance. The initial study identified health issues related to the professional activity of opera singers. Qualitative and quantitative measurements indicated that psychological problems were associated with a distinct worry for possible negative evaluation from significant others and a fear of vocal indisposition. A range of health-promoting activities was demonstrated aiming at preventing the occurrence of somatic problems that could cause vocal indisposition. Psychosocial problems concerned difficulties to maintain a family life and relations due to irregular working hours. In Study II, the psychological and physiological effects of singing lessons were investigated with respect to amateur and professional levels of singing experiences. Amateur singers experienced more well-being measured by self-reports of emotional states and by lower levels of stress hormones than professionals. In Study III, narrative accounts were collected to identify factors and processes in the artistic development during higher opera education. A descriptive model was created that embraced the development of various skills such as singing technique, means of expressiveness and interpersonal skills. Outcome variables from the education were artistic autonomy, artistic competence and change in self-concept. In Study IV, personality characteristics were assessed among elite students in opera and business education representing an artistic versus a traditional educational streaming. Female opera students, female business and male business students shared the personality characteristic of extraversion indicating a disposition towards sensation seeking. Male opera singers exhibited a profile of elevated levels of emotionality. In general, the findings across the studies demonstrate that the individual development of operatic artistry is a complex process where health-related issues, personality characteristics, skills acquisition and sociocultural values are critical constituents. A major result was the marked focus on the instrument per se, the voice. Vocal functioning in singing was described as a means of enabling operatic singing, a mode for artistic expression and indicator of health.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: Psykologiska institutionen , 2005.
Keywords [en]
Artistic development, opera singers, health, vocal ability, personality, skill acquisition, higher education.
National Category
Psychology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:su:diva-448ISBN: 91-7155-039-9 (print)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:su-448DiVA, id: diva2:194013
Public defence
2005-04-29, David Magnussonsalen (U31), hus 8, Frescati hagväg, Stockholm, 10:00
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2005-04-07 Created: 2005-04-07Bibliographically approved
List of papers
1. Voice, soma and psyche: A qualitative and quantitative study of opera singers
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Voice, soma and psyche: A qualitative and quantitative study of opera singers
2002 In: Medical Problems of Performing Artists, ISSN 0885-1158, no March, p. 11-21Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-23693 (URN)
Note
Part of urn:nbn:se:su:diva-448Available from: 2005-04-07 Created: 2005-04-07Bibliographically approved
2. Does singing promote well-being?: An empirical study of professional and amateur singers during a singing lesson
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Does singing promote well-being?: An empirical study of professional and amateur singers during a singing lesson
Show others...
2003 In: Integrative Physiological & Behavioral Science, ISSN 1053-881X, Vol. 38, no 1, p. 65-74Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-23694 (URN)
Note
Part of urn:nbn:se:su:diva-448Available from: 2005-04-07 Created: 2005-04-07Bibliographically approved
3. Learning experiences and motivation in artistic development
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Learning experiences and motivation in artistic development
Article in journal (Refereed) Submitted
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-23695 (URN)
Note
Part of urn:nbn:se:su:diva-448Available from: 2005-04-07 Created: 2005-04-07Bibliographically approved
4. Personality characteristics among elite students in opera and business education
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Personality characteristics among elite students in opera and business education
Article in journal (Refereed) Submitted
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-23696 (URN)
Note
Part of urn:nbn:se:su:diva-448Available from: 2005-04-07 Created: 2005-04-07Bibliographically approved

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