Voice training measurably raises the larynx closed quotient across singers.

Evidence

The time for which the vocal folds are in contact in each cycle, known as “larynx closed quotient” or “CQ,” has been investigated as a possible means by which trained adult male (Howard et al., 1990) and female (Howard, 1995) singers can be helped in producing a more efficient acoustic output. Experimental measurements on trained and untrained singers suggest that CQ is higher at all pitches for trained adult males, and that it tends to increase with pitch for trained adult females in a patterned manner. — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 1346

Categorization

Category: Factual Claims

• DEFINE: Defines larynx closed quotient (CQ), a key trained-voice metric, with empirical gender-differentiated findings.
• SEED: A possible essay angle: how a measurable physical trait of vocal effort (CQ) is trainable — embodied skill made legible as a number.

Related

• Trained singers show higher glottal closed quotient than untrained singers (similarity 0.94)
• High larynx closed quotient makes singing acoustically more efficient (similarity 0.88)
• Higher closed quotient increases vocal efficiency through reduced lung sound leakage (similarity 0.83)

Broader Connections

• High larynx closed quotient makes singing acoustically more efficient #exemplifies (0.92) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1332