Linearity in the loudness envelope of the messa di voce

The messa di voce (MDV) is a vocal exercise used by singers, consisting of a crescendo and decrescendo on a single sustained note. In this study we analysed recorded MDVs sung by tertiary singing students to examine the extent to which MDVs have a linear crescendo and linear decrescendo. The MDVs studied were recorded over a 3-year period, as a cohort of classical singing students progressed through their tertiary education and training. Previous studies of MDV envelopes have examined the envelopes in decibels, but in the present study we use envelopes derived from a dynamic loudness model. We did not find an overall tendency for increased linearity as students mature.