Practices of Respiratory and Vocal Technique ("PRATÉVOR") and Other Factors that Enhance Qualitative Improvement Choral Singing in Primary Education

Abstract

This paper shows, as unifying theme, the “practices of respiratory and vocal technique (PRATÉVOR) applied to choral singing in primary schools”.
It wants to share, although succinctly, a study conducted in 2010 in the High School of Education of Setúbal in the Master of Music Education, a process that started from the methodological approach of PRATÈVOR, acronym created by me to summarize some practices of physiological nature (posture, breathing, vocalization, coordination, vocal registration, etc.) that, by its regular application, could contribute to promote the quality of singing performed by children in general education.
Having as scenario of application the specificity of the first cycle curriculum of primary education in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, and justified by the regime of autonomy of the regional education system, this study begins to develop itself from the questioning of the beneficial effects of vocal and respiratory technique adapted to children in schools, as(one of) valuation factor(s) of singing together exercised in the classroom. If initially started to be implemented to my schoolchildren through a specific educational project part of my Master of Music Education, later the process focuses on the reality of other similar projects of this school choral singing modality developed in 11 schools on the Madeira Island, whose teachers involved in this artistic area benefited anteriorly from a process of skills acquisition.
In this line of investigative thinking, other variables also turn out to be triggered by the search, also as factors to consider, seeing it on its complementarity as significant contributions to the qualification of choir singing developed in primary schools.
In parallel we developed a research project that consisted of a two comparative studies of type Research-Action. Over the four phases, different questionnaires were held involving experts in child singing, choral singing school teachers and students. 
Embodied in a broad review of the literature, the results of the study point to several conclusions which, by their predicted applicability in an educational context, are intended to constitute indicators that can help to improve the practice of music singing, reflected and reconstructed in the current school.