Volume 3, No. 1 September 2005

Karen A. Miyamoto
University of Hawaii, Manoa

miyamotok001@hawaii.rr.com

Abstract

A pretest-posttest experimental design was utilized to determine the efficacy of the Yuba Method on inaccurate elementary singers.  Testing of pitch accuracy was analyzed using the Sona-Speech Model 3600 software program.  Inaccurate singers (N=168) from a population of 320 fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students, were divided into three subgroups and a random sample of subjects was selected to be in a treatment group (N=30) and a control group (N=30).

The Yuba Method, which is meant to target training of the cricothyroid muscle utilizing a series of vocal exercises intended to facilitate maneuverability over the vocal register break, was administered to treatment subjects (N=30) in a single 45-minute session.  The effect of treatment was highly significant at the p < .001 significance level.  Significant differences were also found among singing ability subgroups (before training) at the p = .002 significance level.  Among inaccurate singers, the least accurate subgroup benefited the most and the most accurate singers benefited the least.  Based on the results, the treatment was highly successful in correcting inaccurate elementary school singers in this study.

Article and References

Karen A. Miyamoto serves as a Lecturer at the University of Hawaii at Manoa Music Department teaching Music in the Elementary Classroom and also a Lecturer at the Pacific Rim Bible College teaching Class Voice.  She has taught with the Hawaii Department of Education as an Elementary General Music and Choral Specialist for the past 20 years and currently produces and teaches the Hawaii Department of Education Distance Learning Program "The Music Factory Live" which provides music education instruction to elementary schools throughout the State of Hawaii.  Dr. Miyamoto received a Bachelor of Education Degree in elementary music, Professional Diploma in elementary music education, Master of Music Degree, and Ph.D. in Music from the University of Hawaii.  She has written several articles for the Music Educators National Conference Spotlight Series-- Spotlight On Transition To Teaching, Spotlight On Teaching Technology, and Spotlight On Teaching Chorus, as well as writing curriculum for the MENC VH1 Cable in the Classroom Series, and serving as a General Music Mentor for MENC.