The MISE method: A new communicative approach for evaluating and training singing through mental imagery—Executive implications

Abstract

Describing the qualities of a singer’s voice is a challenging task, even for experts. Voice pedagogues usually evaluate vocal qualities through auditions, after which they make subjective judgments. As a means of communication, language has limitations in expressing concrete sound sensations, and sometimes such a description can be abstract for the singer. Our work aims to design and validate a new educational approach for vocal assessment and training, using the Mental Images for Singing Education (MISE Method). In addition, we analyze whether this pedagogical methodology favors the improvement of vocal technique and the learning of concepts according to the level of experience of the students and their executive performance. Our results show that the introduction of mental imagery produces beneficial effects in the teaching and learning of vocal techniques, regardless of the initial performance level. This makes the MISE Method an effective assessment and training tool, allowing the formalization of a communication language hitherto used intuitively in the singing classroom. However, our results were inconclusive at the cognitive level, so future research is needed to expand the study of executive processes according to the type of mental images used.