11th Annual 21st Century Learning Conference

Presented by a NCVS- Vocologist/Voice Teacher/Opera Singer/Theatre Director, and overseas performing arts educator with 30 plus years of experience in the classroom in large international schools, this workshop will explain the fact that teachers are at high risk for developing vocal disorders (Smith et al, 1998b; Roy et al 2004; de Jong et al., 2006; Simberg, Sala & Ronnemaa, 2004).  The prevalence of having at least one occurrence of dysphonia during a teacher's life life span was as high as 58% for teachers compared to 28.8% for non-teachers (Titze, Verdolini-Abbot, 2012, 16).  This presentation will focus on voice habilitation for teachers of ALL subjects in ALL disciplines, but most at risk are performing arts and physical education teachers (Smith, Kirchner, Taylor, Hoffman & Lemke, 1998a; Thibeault et all., 2004).  How does a teacher care for their tiny vocal folds that are approximately 1 cm long, when phonating 6-7 hours per day?  We will look at how to avoid a professionally hazardous situation that many voice professionals encounter by keeping your tiny vocal folds in healthy condition for life. Vocal exercises will be learned including Semi Occluded Vocal Tract (SOVT) straw phonation, as well as strategies for coping for professional voice users.