Singing Voice Rehabilitation

What is Singing Voice Rehabilitation and who needs it?

Every singer at some point in their career will have a problem with their voice. This may be anything including:

Loss of stamina
Increase in recovery time
Loss of upper range
Gaps in the range
Problems with loud or soft singing
Aching in throat
Voice routinely groggy in the morning

 

If you are worried about your voice, it’s important to have a diagnosis from an ENT consultant who is a voice specialist. This will normally be followed up by some speech therapy work. Then the singing voice rehabilitation specialist steps in. I am one of the few Voice Rehabilitation Coaches to be endorsed by the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine. In order to be accredited by them, one needs to have an in-depth knowledge of functional anatomy, vocal pathology, endoscopic observation, counselling skills, palpation skills, regular participation in Voice Clinics and regular supervision. Every one of these competencies is backed-up by training and certification so it is unsurprising that there are so few of us.

What is a Voice Rehabilitation Coach?

Singers may come for rehabilitation work either through referral from a voice clinic, or you may self-refer.
If you have come from a clinic, you will:

Have had an endoscopic examination of your larynx and vocal folds.
Have had some sessions with a Speech and Language Therapist.
Already know some of the nature of the issue with your voice.
You will have had some guidance for looking after your health and for changing some of your habitual usage.

 

At your first session with the Vocal Rehabilitation Coach (VRC), they may already have some information from the clinic or the SLT. However, it’s probably better to assume that they need to hear your story again. A full history is essential in order to form a complete picture, and to devise a holistic pathway for your vocal recovery. 

If you have self-referred to a VRC, they will need a full history and to listen carefully to your voice. If there is any suggestion of pathology, they will recommend a voice clinic appointment. What will the VRC do?

Take a history of your voice problem
Listen to your voice, speaking and singing
Advise on techniques and exercises to address vocal habits, these are not necessarily genre-specific
Plan to have three or four sessions with you
Communicate progress and suggestions with your current singing teacher as well as the SLT

The aim of vocal rehabilitation

To enable you to achieve the sounds that you wish, in the easiest way possible for you.
To give you the tools and techniques that will help you to relearn any unhelpful habits of voice use.
Equip you to return to your work without fear of a recurrence of the initial voice problem.

Voice Rehabilitation can be for anyone, any singer of any age or vocal genre

“I just wanted to say a big thank you for helping J on Saturday. Your approach with him was spot on – he is normally very shy so the fact that he spoke to you and made jokes says a lot about your skills with children! 

We are so pleased to hear that his voice is ok – we will now communicate this to his singing teacher. I have put a mirror next to the piano now so that he can practice the tummy breathing that you showed him.”