Biomechanics of sound production in high-pitched classical singing.

Voice production of humans and most mammals is governed by the MyoElastic-AeroDynamic (MEAD) principle, where an air stream is modulated by self-sustained vocal fold oscillation to generate audible air pressure fluctuations. An alternative mechanism is found in ultrasonic vocalizations of rodents, which are established by an aeroacoustic (AA) phenomenon without vibration of laryngeal tissue. Previously, some authors argued that high-pitched human vocalization is also produced by the AA principle. Here, we investigate the so-called "whistle register" voice production in nine professional female operatic sopranos singing a scale from C6 (≈ 1047 Hz) to G6 (≈ 1568 Hz). Super-high-speed videolaryngoscopy revealed vocal fold collision in all participants, with closed quotients from 30 to 73%. Computational modeling showed that the biomechanical requirements to produce such high-pitched voice would be an increased contraction of the cricothyroid muscle, vocal fold strain of about 50%, and high subglottal pressure. Our data suggest that high-pitched operatic soprano singing uses the MEAD mechanism. Consequently, the commonly used term "whistle register" does not reflect the physical principle of a whistle with regard to voice generation in high pitched classical singing.

Articulatory and acoustic differences between lyric and dramatic singing in Western classical music.

Within the realm of voice classification, singers could be sub-categorized by the weight of their repertoire, the so-called "singer's Fach." However, the opposite pole terms "lyric" and "dramatic" singing are not yet well defined by their acoustic and articulatory characteristics. Nine professional singers of different singers' Fach were asked to sing a diatonic scale on the vowel /a/, first in what the singers considered as lyric and second in what they considered as dramatic. Image recording was performed using real time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with 25 frames/s, and the audio signal was recorded via an optical microphone system. Analysis was performed with regard to sound pressure level (SPL), vibrato amplitude, and frequency and resonance frequencies as well as articulatory settings of the vocal tract. The analysis revealed three primary differences between dramatic and lyric singing: Dramatic singing was associated with greater SPL and greater vibrato amplitude and frequency as well as lower resonance frequencies. The higher SPL is an indication of voice source changes, and the lower resonance frequencies are probably caused by the lower larynx position. However, all these strategies showed a considerable individual variability. The singers' Fach might contribute to perceptual differences even for the same singer with regard to the respective repertoire.

Dynamic changes of vocal tract dimensions with sound pressure level during messa di vocea).

The messa di voce (MdV), which consists of a continuous crescendo and subsequent decrescendo on one pitch is one of the more difficult exercises of the technical repertoire of Western classical singing. With rising lung pressure, regulatory adjustments both on the level of the glottis and the vocal tract are required to keep the pitch stable. The dynamic changes of vocal tract dimensions with the bidirectional variation of sound pressure level (SPL) during MdV were analyzed by two-dimensional real-time magnetic resonance imaging (25 frames/s) and synchronous audio recordings in 12 professional singer subjects. Close associations in the respective articulatory kinetics were found between SPL and lip opening, jaw opening, pharynx width, uvula elevation, and vertical larynx position. However, changes in vocal tract dimensions during plateaus of SPL suggest that perceived loudness could have been varied beyond the dimension of SPL. Further multimodal investigation, including the analysis of sound spectra, is needed for a better understanding of the role of vocal tract resonances in the control of vocal loudness in human phonation.

Articulatory and Phonatory Precision When Singing Staccato at Different Speeds.

INTRODUCTION: Vocal tract adjustments are important for resonatory modification of the voice and also with respect to interactions concerning the voice source production. It is not clear, however, how fast, separated notes (staccato) influence vocal tract adjustments. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twelve professional singers (four sopranos, three mezzo-sopranos, three tenors, and two baritones/basses) were recorded with dynamic real-time 2D-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with 25 fps singing a scale in legato and different staccato speeds (60, 120, 180, and 240 bps). From the MRI material, the lip opening, jaw opening, jaw protrusion, tongue position, pharynx width, and larynx position were measured. Furthermore, the fundamental frequency was analyzed from the simultaneously recorded audio signal after noise cancellation. RESULTS: The data show only very small differences between the legato and the staccato tasks and no great variations for different staccato speeds. During the pauses in between the staccato notes, minimal vocal tract adjustments were only detectable for the slowest staccato task. CONCLUSION: There are no great differences in the vocal tract shapes for legato singing in contrast to staccato phonation and no great differences for different staccato speeds.

A coupled experimental and statistical approach for an assessment of SARS-CoV-2 infection risk at indoor event locations.

Indoor event locations are particularly affected by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. At large venues, only incomplete risk assessments exist, whereby no suitable measures can be derived. In this study, a physical and data-driven statistical model for a comprehensive infection risk assessment has been developed. At venues displacement ventilation concepts are often implemented. Here simplified theoretical assumptions fail for the prediction of relevant airflows for airborne transmission processes. Thus, with locally resolving trace gas measurements infection risks are computed more detailed. Coupled with epidemiological data such as incidences, vaccination rates, test sensitivities, and audience characteristics such as masks and age distribution, predictions of new infections (mean), situational R-values (mean), and individual risks on- and off-seat can be achieved for the first time. Using the Stuttgart State Opera as an example, the functioning of the model and its plausibility are tested and a sensitivity analysis is performed with regard to masks and tests. Besides a reference scenario on 2022-11-29, a maximum safety scenario with an obligation of FFP2 masks and rapid antigen tests as well as a minimum safety scenario without masks and tests are investigated. For these scenarios the new infections (mean) are 10.6, 0.25 and 13.0, respectively. The situational R-values (mean) - number of new infections caused by a single infectious person in a certain situation - are 2.75, 0.32 and 3.39, respectively. Besides these results a clustered consideration divided by age, masks and whether infections occur on-seat or off-seat are presented. In conclusion this provides an instrument that can enable policymakers and operators to take appropriate measures to control pandemics despite ongoing mass gathering events.

Differences of Electroglottographical Contact Quotients between Connected Speech and Sustained Phonation in Clinical Measurement of Voice.

INTRODUCTION: In clinical practice, sustained phonation is mostly used for acoustic voice measurements, while perceptual evaluation is based on connected speech. Since sustained phonation could be associated with the use of the singing voice, and since vocal registers are more relevant for singing rather than speech, it is unclear if vocal registers contribute to observable vocal fold contact differences between sustained phonation and speech. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sustained phonation (vowel [a] on comfortable pitch and loudness) and connected speech (German text: Der Nordwind und die Sonne) were analyzed for 1216 subjects (426 with and 790 without dysphonia) using the Laryngograph system (combining electroglottography and audio recordings). From these samples, fundamental frequency (ƒo), contact quotient (CQ), sound pressure level (SPL) and frequency perturbation (jitter first for sustained and cFx for connected speech) were evaluated. RESULTS: Compared to connected speech, the values of ƒo and SPL were higher for sustained phonation. For female voices, ƒo difference was greater than for male voices. At the same time, and only for the females, CQ was lower for the sustained phonation, indicating a register difference. CONCLUSION: In order to achieve a better comparability, sustained phonation should be standardized regarding the ƒo and SPL values in correspondence to the ƒo and SPL range of reading a text. This should also reduce the risk of using a different register for different types of phonation.

Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor and survival in elective cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: The study investigated the prognostic value of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and calculated a simplified biomarker score comprising suPAR, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and age. METHODS AND RESULTS: Biomarkers were assessed in a cohort of 478 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. After a median follow-up of 4.2 years, a total of 72 (15.1%) patients died. SuPAR, NT-proBNP and age were independent prognosticators of mortality in a multivariable Cox regression model after adjustment for EuroScoreII. We then calculated a simplified biomarker score comprising age, suPAR and NT-proBNP, which had a superior prognostic value compared to EuroScoreII (Harrel's C of 0.76 vs. 0.72; P for difference = 0.02). Besides long-term mortality, the biomarker score had an excellent performance predicting one-year mortality and hospitalization due to heart failure. CONCLUSION: The biomarker suPAR and NT-proBNP were strongly and independently associated with mortality in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. A simplified biomarker score comprising only three variables (age, suPAR and NT-proBNP) performed better than the established EuroScoreII with respect to intermediate and long-term outcome as well as hospitalization due to heart failure. As such, integration of established and upcoming biomarkers in clinical practice may provide improved decision support in cardiac surgery.

New ECG algorithms with improved accuracy for prediction of culprit vessel in inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: In addition to diagnosing acute myocardial infarction (MI), the electrocardiogram (ECG) may also predict the culprit coronary artery. We aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of ECG algorithms predicting the occluded vessel in inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 300 consecutive patients with inferior STEMI undergoing acute coronary angiography. A new method based on the summation of ST-segment deviations in multiple leads from the first 12-lead-ECG was used to develop algorithms to discriminate between right coronary artery (RCA) and circumflex artery (CX) occlusion. Additionally, older algorithms were reassessed. RESULTS: The RCA was occluded in 235 patients (78%) and the CX in 65 (22%). ST-segment deviations differed significantly between RCA and CX occlusions in leads I, III, aVR, aVL, aVF and V1. ST-segment deviations in lead I showed the highest discriminatory ability of a single lead (area under the receiver operating curve [AUC]=0.77). The summation of multiple leads further increased the discriminatory ability ("III-II+aVF+aVR+V1:" AUC=0.86; "III-II-I+aVF+V1:" AUC=0.85). The best binary algorithm "III-II-I+aVF+V1>0.1 mV" classified 86% of cases correctly and was better than the best old algorithm (83.3%). The simpler algorithm "III+aVR+V1≥0.1 mV" still predicted 85.0% correctly. All algorithms had higher sensitivities for RCA than for CX detection and performed better in right-dominant anatomy. CONCLUSIONS: A new approach summating multiple ST-segment deviations generated ECG algorithms with higher diagnostic accuracy to predict the occluded vessel in inferior STEMI compared to previous studies. These algorithms may facilitate earlier risk stratification for patients at risk of postinfarct complications.

Risk stratification and long-term outcome of patients receiving in-hospital medical emergency team critical care: experience from Austria's largest medical center.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate predictors for long-term survival of in-hospital patients with medical emergency team (MET) consultation with or without in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) in Austria's largest medical center. METHODS: Data of patients, who needed an intervention of a MET between 01/2014 and 03/2020 were reviewed for this retrospective analysis. RESULTS: In total, 708 MET calls were analyzed. The minimum follow-up was 7 months, the maximum 6.2 years. The main MET indications were circulatory failure (63%) followed by respiratory failure (27.1%), and bleeding events (3.5%). IHCA with subsequent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was experienced by 425 (60%) patients. Of those, 274 (64%) reached return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and 221 (52%) survived the first 24-hours (median survival: 146 days) and 22.1% the first year. After adjustment for potential confounders, age (P<0.001), time to ROSC (P<0.001), a non-shockable rhythm (P=0.041), chronic kidney disease (CKD, P=0.041), peak lactate levels (P<0.001), and C-reactive protein (P=0.001) were associated with long-term all-cause mortality in IHCA patients in Cox regression analysis. The 283 MET calls (40%) which were due to other reasons than IHCA were associated with a much better 24-hours (93%) and 1-year survival (61.8%). Beside age (P<0.001), the main risk factors associated with mortality in MET patients without IHCA were comorbidities such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, P=0.008), CKD (P=0.001), pulmonary hypertension/chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (PH/CTEPH, P=0.024), and cancer (P=0.040). CONCLUSIONS: Patients triggering MET calls have an increased mortality, especially those with IHCA. Predictors of mortality comprise age, comorbidities, and cardiac arrest-related parameters. A better characterization of MET call populations and their outcome might help to improve clinical decision making.

Differences of respiratory kinematics in female and male singers - A comparative study using dynamic magnetic resonance imaging.

Breath control is an important factor for singing voice production, but pedagogic descriptions of how a beneficial movement pattern should be performed vary widely and the underlying physiological processes are not understood in detail. Differences in respiratory movements during singing might be related to the sex of the singer. To study sex-related differences in respiratory kinematics during phonation, 12 singers (six male and six female) trained in the Western classical singing tradition were imaged with dynamic magnetic resonance imaging. Singers were asked to sustain phonation at five different pitches and loudness conditions, and cross-sectional images of the lung were acquired. In each dynamic image frame the distances between anatomical landmarks were measured to quantify the movements of the respiratory apparatus. No major difference between male and female singers was found for the general respiratory kinematics of the thorax and the diaphragm during sustained phonation. However when compared to sole breathing, male singers significantly increased their thoracic movements for singing. This behavior could not be observed in female singers. The presented data support the hypothesis that professional singers follow sex-specific breathing strategies. This finding may be important in a pedagogical context where the biological sex of singer and student differ and should be further investigated in a larger cohort.

Vocal Behavior of Teachers Reading with Raised Voice in a Noisy Environment.

(1) Objective: Teaching is a particularly voice-demanding occupation. Voice training provided during teachers' education is often insufficient and thus teachers are at risk of developing voice disorders. Vocal demands during teaching are not only characterized by speaking for long durations but also by speaking in noisy environments. This provokes the so-called Lombard effect, which intuitively leads to an increase in voice intensity, pitch and phonation time in laboratory studies. However, this effect has not been thoroughly investigated in realistic teaching scenarios. (2) Methods: This study thus examined how 13 experienced, but vocally untrained, teachers behaved when reading in a noisy compared to quiet background environment. The quiet and noisy conditions were provided by a live audience either listening quietly or making noise by talking to each other. By using a portable voice accumulator, the fundamental frequency, sound pressure level of the voice and the noise as well as the phonation time were recorded in both conditions. (3) Results: The results showed that the teachers mainly responded according to the Lombard effect. In addition, analysis of phonation time revealed that they failed to increase inhalation time and appeared to lose articulation through the shortening of voiceless consonants in the noisy condition. (4) Conclusions: The teachers demonstrated vocally demanding behavior when speaking in the noisy condition, which can lead to vocal fatigue and cause dysphonia. The findings underline the necessity for specific voice training in teachers' education, and the content of such training is discussed in light of the results.

Galectin-3 is an independent predictor of postoperative atrial fibrillation and survival after elective cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a frequent complication after heart surgery and is associated with thromboembolic events, prolonged hospital stay, and adverse outcomes. Inflammation and fibrosis are involved in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess whether galectin-3, which reflects preexisting atrial fibrosis, has the potential to predict POAF and mortality after cardiac surgery. METHODS: Four hundred seventy-five consecutive patients (mean age 67.4 ± 11.8 years; 336 (70.7%) male) undergoing elective heart surgery at the Medical University of Vienna were included in this prospective single-center cohort study. Galectin-3 plasma levels were assessed on the day before surgery. RESULTS: The 200 patients (42.1%) who developed POAF had significantly higher galectin-3 levels (9.60 ± 6.83 ng/mL vs 7.10 ± 3.54 ng/mL; P < .001). Galectin-3 significantly predicted POAF in multivariable logistic regression analysis (adjusted odds ratio per 1-SD increase 1.44; 95% confidence interval 1.15-1.81; P = .002). During a median follow-up of 4.3 years (interquartile range 3.4-5.4 years), 72 patients (15.2%) died. Galectin-3 predicted all-cause mortality in multivariable Cox regression analysis (adjusted hazard ratio per 1-SD increase 1.56; 95% confidence interval 1.16-2.09; P = .003). Patients with the highest-risk galectin-3 levels according to classification and regression tree analysis (>11.70 ng/mL) had a 3.3-fold higher risk of developing POAF and a 4.4-fold higher risk of dying than did patients with the lowest-risk levels (≤5.82 ng/mL). CONCLUSION: The profibrotic biomarker galectin-3 is an independent predictor of POAF and mortality after cardiac surgery. This finding highlights the role of the underlying arrhythmogenic substrate in the genesis of POAF. Galectin-3 may help to identify patients at risk of POAF and adverse outcome after cardiac surgery.

Coronavirus vaccination rates in cultural areas in Germany.

Vaccination is a significant preventive measure to contain the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Vaccination rates can provide useful information on the potential spread of infection in a given population. In this study, vaccination rates and attitudes towards vaccination in cultural sectors, specifically the music sector, have been investigated. In total, 4341 persons in four different areas, including visitors to performances of classical music and musicals, as well as professional and amateur musicians, have participated in this survey. Results show rates of 86% recovered from the COVID-19 virus or vaccinated at least once, with 54.5% fully vaccinated. These vaccination rates were considerably higher compared to the general population. An attitude of hesitation towards vaccination found in 6.4% of those sampled was half that of the general population. These findings drawn from a large sample indicate that in the field of music a high vaccination rate is to be found, as well as a low rejection rate of vaccination on the part of the audience and performers. The results can be used to provide insights into the vaccination status to be found at cultural events and, importantly, to assist in consideration of whether cultural events should be permitted to continue under pandemic circumstances.

Voice efficiency for different voice qualities combining experimentally derived sound signals and numerical modeling of the vocal tract.

Purpose: Concerning voice efficiency considerations of different singing styles, from western classical singing to contemporary commercial music, only limited data is available to date. This single-subject study attempts to quantify the acoustic sound intensity within the human glottis depending on different vocal tract configurations and vocal fold vibration. Methods: Combining Finite-Element-Models derived from 3D-MRI data, audio recordings, and electroglottography (EGG) we analyzed vocal tract transfer functions, particle velocity and acoustic pressure at the glottis, and EGG-related quantities to evaluate voice efficiency at the glottal level and resonance characteristics of different voice qualities according to Estill Voice Training®. Results: Voice qualities Opera and Belting represent highly efficient strategies but apply different vowel strategies and should thus be capable of predominate orchestral sounds. Twang and Belting use similar vowels, but the twang vocal tract configuration enabled the occurrence of anti-resonances and was associated with reduced vocal fold contact but still partially comparable energy transfer from the glottis to the vocal tract. Speech was associated with highly efficient glottal to vocal tract energy transfer, but with the absence of psychoactive strategies makes it more susceptible to noise interference. Falsetto and Sobbing apply less efficiently. Falsetto mainly due to its voice source characteristics, Sobbing due to energy loss in the vocal tract. Thus technical amplification might be appropriate here. Conclusion: Differences exist between voice qualities regarding the sound intensity, caused by different vocal tract morphologies and oscillation characteristics of the vocal folds. The combination of numerical analysis of geometries inside the human body and experimentally determined data outside sheds light on acoustical quantities at the glottal level.

Sub-millisecond 2D MRI of the vocal fold oscillation using single-point imaging with rapid encoding.

OBJECTIVE: The slow spatial encoding of MRI has precluded its application to rapid physiologic motion in the past. The purpose of this study is to introduce a new fast acquisition method and to demonstrate feasibility of encoding rapid two-dimensional motion of human vocal folds with sub-millisecond resolution. METHOD: In our previous work, we achieved high temporal resolution by applying a rapidly switched phase encoding gradient along the direction of motion. In this work, we extend phase encoding to the second image direction by using single-point imaging with rapid encoding (SPIRE) to image the two-dimensional vocal fold oscillation in the coronal view. Image data were gated using electroglottography (EGG) and motion corrected. An iterative reconstruction with a total variation (TV) constraint was used and the sequence was also simulated using a motion phantom. RESULTS: Dynamic images of the vocal folds during phonation at pitches of 150 and 165 Hz were acquired in two volunteers and the periodic motion of the vocal folds at a temporal resolution of about 600 µs was shown. The simulations emphasize the necessity of SPIRE for two-dimensional motion encoding. DISCUSSION: SPIRE is a new MRI method to image rapidly oscillating structures and for the first time provides dynamic images of the vocal folds oscillations in the coronal plane.

Prescription Patterns of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Heart Failure.

PURPOSE: The benefit of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been unequivocally proven in randomized, controlled trials. However, real-world evidence assessing the implementation of SGLT2i in clinical practice and their benefit in HF outside of highly selected study populations is limited. METHODS: Patients with HF and T2DM admitted to the cardiology ward of the Medical University of Vienna between 01/2014 and 04/2020 were included in the present analysis. All first-time prescriptions of SGLT2i were identified. The outcome of interest was cardiovascular mortality. The median follow-up time was 2.3 years. RESULTS: Out of 812 patients with T2DM and HF (median age 70.4 [IQR 62.4-76.9] years; 70.3% males), 17.3% received an SGLT2i. The frequency of SGLT2i prescriptions significantly increased over the past 6 years (+ 36.6%, p < 0.001). In propensity score-adjusted pairwise analyses, SGLT2i treatment was inversely associated with long-term cardiovascular mortality in patients with HFrEF presenting with an adjusted HR of 0.33 (95%CI: 0.13-0.86; p = 0.024). CONCLUSION: Despite large outcome trials showing a cardiovascular benefit, SGLT2i remain underutilized in clinical practice in patients with T2DM and HF. National and European Medical Agency remuneration regulations would allow more patients at high risk to receive these cardiovascular protective drugs. Most importantly, an SGLT2i therapy was associated with a survival benefit in patients with HFrEF.

The influence of gravity on respiratory kinematics during phonation measured by dynamic magnetic resonance imaging.

Respiratory kinematics are important for the regulation of voice production. Dynamic MRI is an excellent tool to study respiratory motion providing high-resolution cross-sectional images. Unfortunately, in clinical MRI systems images can only be acquired in a horizontal subject position, which does not take into account gravitational effects on the respiratory apparatus. To study the effect of body posture on respiratory kinematics during phonation, 8 singers were examined both in an open-configuration MRI with a rotatable gantry and a conventional horizontal MRI system. During dynamic MRI the subjects sang sustained tones at different pitches in both supine and upright body positions. Sagittal images of the respiratory system were obtained at 1-3 images per second, from which 6 anatomically defined distances were extracted to characterize its movements in the anterior, medium and posterior section of the diaphragm as well as the rip cage (diameter at the height of the 3rd and 5th rip) and the anterior-posterior position of the diaphragm cupola. Regardless of body position, singers maintained their general principles of respiratory kinematics with combined diaphragm and thorax muscle activation for breath support. This was achieved by expanding their chest an additional 20% during inspiration when singing in the supine position but not for sole breathing. The diaphragm was cranially displaced in supine position for both singing and breathing and its motion range increased. These results facilitate a more realistic extrapolation of research data obtained in a supine position.

The spread of breathing air from wind instruments and singers using schlieren techniques.

The spread of breathing air when playing wind instruments and singing was investigated and visualized using two methods: (1) schlieren imaging with a schlieren mirror and (2) background-oriented schlieren (BOS). These methods visualize airflow by visualizing density gradients in transparent media. The playing of professional woodwind and brass instrument players, as well as professional classical trained singers were investigated to estimate the spread distances of the breathing air. For a better comparison and consistent measurement series, a single high note, a single low note, and an extract of a musical piece were investigated. Additionally, anemometry was used to determine the velocity of the spreading breathing air and the extent to which it was quantifiable. The results showed that the ejected airflow from the examined instruments and singers did not exceed a spreading range of 1.2 m into the room. However, differences in the various instruments have to be considered to assess properly the spread of the breathing air. The findings discussed below help to estimate the risk of cross-infection for wind instrument players and singers and to develop efficacious safety precautions, which is essential during critical health periods such as the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Airflow and Air Velocity Measurements While Playing Wind Instruments, with Respect to Risk Assessment of a SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Due to airborne transmission of the coronavirus, the question arose as to how high the risk of spreading infectious particles can be while playing a wind instrument. To examine this question and to help clarify the possible risk, we analyzed 14 wind instruments, first qualitatively by making airflows visible while playing, and second quantitatively by measuring air velocity at three distances (1, 1.5, 2 m) in the direction of the instruments' bells. Measurements took place with wind instrumentalists of the Bamberg Symphony in their concert hall. Our findings highlight that while playing, no airflows escaping from any of the wind instruments-from the bell with brass instruments or from the mouthpiece, keyholes or bell with woodwinds-were measurable beyond a distance of 1.5 m, regardless of volume, pitch or what was played. With that, air velocity while playing corresponded to the usual value of 1 m/s in hall-like rooms. For air-jet woodwinds, alto flute and piccolo, significant air movements were seen close to the mouthpiece, which escaped directly into the room.