Gender Differences in Long-Term Average Spectra of Children's Singing Voices

SummaryThis paper forms part of a larger study into the nature of singing development in children and examines gender differences in long-term average spectra (LTAS). Three hundred and twenty children in age groups 4–11 years learned a song and were then recorded singing alone. LTAS curves were calculated for each voice. Age of each singer was estimated and gender attributed by a panel of independent listeners. Rate of gender identification (71%) was consonant with that reported for children's speech. Progressive statistically significant shifts of spectral energy as a function of increasing age (reported in a previous study) were found to be present in the data for both genders, but the developmental timetable over which the changes took place was earlier for girls than for boys. A theoretical basis for the developmental changes is proposed.