The Effects of Heel Height on Head Position, Long-Term Average Spectra, and Perceptions of Female Singers

Female singers often wear high heels for auditions and performances. Heel height research in non-singing contexts indicates that wearing heels can affect body alignment and head position. Studies in orthodontics, sleep apnea, and voice science suggest that head and neck positioning can alter the vocal tract. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects, if any, of heel height (barefoot, 10.16-cm stilettos) on three angles of singer head position (calculated from C7-tragus-nasion), long-term average spectra data, and perceptual data (questionnaire) acquired from female (N = 30) soloists during alternating periods of silence and singing. Results indicated that all participants (100%) significantly decreased head position angle measurements (inferior and posterior head and neck movement) when singing in high heels compared with singing barefoot. Participants, on average, significantly increased head position angle measurements (superior and anterior head and neck movement) when singing compared with standing silently, and did so to a greater degree when transitioning from silent heels to singing heels compared with transitioning from silent barefoot to singing barefoot. Long-term average spectra data indicated significant spectral energy differences between barefoot and high heel singing conditions across participants. Most participants (n = 21, 70.00%) indicated they felt comfortable and sang their best while barefoot. Results of this study, the second in a series of experiments addressing the effects of shoe heel height on female singers' vocal production, were discussed in terms of application to vocal pedagogy and directions for future research.