Elementary School Children' s Vocal Range

The purpose of the study was to examine the vocal range of the elementary school child over a five-year period. Vocal range is the total span of the child' s capacity to produce phonated sounds. Children were tested for range by singing ascending and descending major scale patterns on a neutral syllable. Results indicated that the mean ranges progressed from the interval of a ninth in first grade to nearly two octaves in sixth grade. Two-way analysis of variance showed no significant sex differences. Development of range was significantly related to maturation at the .05 level. At every grade level, 50% or more could sing an octave or more; the number singing two octaves or more increased progressively from 9.7% in first grade to 52.2% in sixth grade. Ranges of elementary children' s voices are both higher and greater in span than has been previously reported. Presence of three distinct vocal registers is noted and maturation levels described.