WORKSHOP TITLE: Voice Care for Singers

SUBTITLE: Using Vocal Straws in Self-Managed Vocal Hygiene

DELIVERY METHOD: Self-Study

(30 days to complete)

PRESENTED BY:

• Todd Keys - Vocal Coach and Vocal Health First Aider
• Jane Beale - Speech Pathologist

The Voice Care for Singers Workshop is delivered in a relaxed, friendly and practical manner.

The workshop is aimed at:

• Students learning to sing
• Singing Teachers
• Vocal Coaches
• Musical Directors
• Anyone who works with singers
• People interested in learning more about Voice Care for Singers
• Also suitable for actors, musical theatre performers and drama students

LEARNING MODES

The workshop is for people 15 years and over and takes place across a range of learning modes, such as reading, watching, writing and engaging in straw phonation.

WORKSHOP STEPS

Participants are encouraged to undertake all of the following steps:

• read a "pre-workshop" handout
• watch a "pre-workshop" video
• fill-in a "pre- workshop" worksheet
• watch a pre-recorded version of the 90 minute online workshop
• join in activities that are demonstrated by the presenters
• complete and submit a final quiz
• receive feedback on the quiz
• receive a certificate of completion

WORKSHOP CONTENT

The following topics are explored in Voice Care for Singers:

* OVERVIEW OF VOCAL HEALTH

* SELF-MANAGED VOCAL HYGIENE

* USING THE SOVT VOCAL STRAW

SECTION ONE - Overview of Vocal Health

• Vocal Wellbeing
• Vocal Difficulties
• When to refer to GP/Medical Specialist/Speech Pathologist

SECTION TWO - Self-Managed Vocal Hygiene

• What is Vocal Hygiene?
• A closer look at key vocal hygiene strategies for singers
• How to plan a "self-managed" vocal hygiene program to suit an individual voice/vocal demands
• Explore vocal hygiene stumbling blocks / problem solve strategies
• Discuss time frames for seeing positive outcomes from self-managed vocal hygiene
• Recommendations on when to seek guidance / medical assistance for vocal difficulties
• Using the SOVT Vocal Straw to establish and maintain good vocal habits and vocal wellbeing

SECTION THREE - Practise Using the SOVT Vocal Straw

During this practical component of the workshop, participants are encouraged to join in and practise straw phonation and SOVT exercises, including:

• Vocal Warmups
• Breathing Techniques
• Gentle Phonation Exercises
• Water Bubbling

NB: Participants are strongly encouraged to bring an SOVT Vocal Straw to the workshop to maximise participation and potential benefits from this section of the workshop. A plastic, wooden or metal straw may be used as substitute if an SOVT Vocal Straw is not available.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the completion of Voice Care for Singers, it is expected that participants will be able to:

1. Briefly describe vocal health and comment of the current status of their own vocal health
2. List a range of vocal hygiene strategies and habits and have a basic understanding of how good vocal hygiene underpins vocal wellbeing
3. Identify several vocal hygiene stumbling blocks and have a number of strategies for addressing these stumbling blocks
4. Have a basic plan for an individualised Vocal Hygiene Program with an understanding of how to further design, implement and monitor the plan
5. State when to seek assistance/medical advice for vocal difficulties that persist
6. Use the SOVT Vocal Straw (or a substitute straw) to work on a number of exercises including warm ups, breathing techniques, gentle phonation and water bubbling

ON ENROLMENT

Once enrolment is paid for, participants receive an email with instructions for logging into Vocal Straws Australia on Moodlecloud:

Once on Moodlecloud, participants engage in the "pre-workshop" steps:

1. Read a one page handout
2. Watch a short video
3. Complete a one page worksheet
4. Download (and print - optional) the workshop booklet

Participants are strongly encouraged to engage in the pre-workshop activities to maximise their learning experience and to cover "pre-requisite" information for engaging in the 90 minute 'pre-recorded' workshop.

PRE-RECORDED WORKSHOP

Participants progress to step 5. in Moodlecloud - the workshop (a 90 minute pre-recording from the online 'live' version).

Participants are able to watch the video as many times as they wish during the 30 days of enrolment.

POST WORKSHOP RESOURCES AND QUIZ

When participants have finished watching the 90 minute video, they can explore the topic further through the additional resources. There is also the option to complete a short quiz, to consolidate learning and to demonstrate an understanding of the topics covered.

Completing the quiz is a requirement for receiving a Certificate of Completion.

Cost:

• $18.00 + GST

SPECIAL: $36.00 +GST for all three workshops in the series