Research Network Man and Music (University Mozarteum Salzburg) Form January to April 2002 a series of experiments have been conducted in cooperation with Tomatis International (Deutschland) and the evaluation of the results is almost finished by now. This pilot study should clarify, whether a Tomatis listening training, being highly appreciated by many singers, could within a short time frame improve the listening and voice capabilities in a way that could be objectively measured with audiometric tests and physical voice analysis. At the same time the project should verify new methods of understanding biological control mechanisms of the human body. A Tomatis listening training of two times ten days had been accomplished by seven singing students of the Mozarteum University. Sitting in comfortable chairs and wearing headphones they had been listening for two hours daily to individually modified music of Mozart and Gregorian Chants. In regular intervals various listening tests, voice recordings and balance tests had been performed. During the daily listing phases of two hours skin resistance and skin potential as well as electromyography had been measured on the forearm providing an indication of the unconscious control mechanisms of the body. After the listing training all test persons declared that they felt much more relaxed than before and had observed improvements of the voice development. The voice analysis showed partially a more regular vibrato as well as a shifting of the formants while changes of the control mechanisms were revealed by the biological data. Because of constitutional differences the effects of the listing training deviated between the participants thereby not allowing a final conclusion up to now, which of the changes are to be considered as results of the daily breaks and which are due to the special effects of music. The investigations will to be continued as to obtain further insight into the psycho-physiological effects of music. Dr. Horst-Peter Hesse Institute for Musical Science and Interdisciplinary Studies University Mozarteum Salzburg
(from: UNI ART 10 of the University Mozarteum Salzburg / October 2002)