The AIRS Test Battery of Singing Skills: Rationale, item types, and lifespan scope

Singing abilities begin in early childhood and continue throughout life. Audiovideo recordings of singing behaviours collected from a wide variety of individuals can provide a foundation for exploring the complexities of singing acquisition. The AIRS Test Battery of Singing Skills (ATBSS) was developed to provide this foundation using a standard protocol appropriate for longitudinal testing of persons across the lifespan, from different cultures, and levels of musical training. Test components examine the ability to sing an internationally familiar song (Brother John, Frere Jacques) as well as learn a new song, perform short melodic fragments, sing lowest and highest notes, improvise the ending of a song, and create an entirely new song. Several verbal tasks are included. This article describes the early development of the ATBSS and the first two studies executed to provide proof of concept. The report of the first study focuses primarily on the data of the familiar song acquired during five monthly testing sessions of children aged 3, 5, and 7 years and university students. The report of the second study focuses on the administration of the test to healthy older persons and those with dementia. These studies show the viability of the ATBSS components in general and the applicability of the ATBSS for longitudinal investigations. The work also paves the way for use of the ATBSS in other countries and highlights the value of cooperation and data-sharing among researchers of singing.