Singers are vocal athletes, and as athletes, are prone to injury. In fact, up to 70 percent of singers experience a voice problem during their careers. Professional operatic singers are the elite Olympic athletes of the singing world in that their voices must be in peak condition at all times to ensure their professional success and longevity.  Even a slight alteration in their vocal function can jeopardize future professional engagements, lead to loss of income, or damage their professional reputation.

Duke Voice Care Center and North Carolina Opera will present a full-day workshop in vocal health and wellness for opera singers.  Vocal Health and Fitness for Opera Singers.

PREREQUISITES

Participants must have completed at least four years of training in classical singing and have experience performing in professional or academic opera productions.

COURSE INSTRUCTORS
Leda Scearce, MM, MS, CCC-SLP
Singing Voice Specialist
Seth Cohen, MD, MPH
Emily Scheuring, MEd, CCC-SLP

CURRICULUM

• Anatomy, physiology, and acoustics of classical singing
• Vocal hygiene and vocal injury prevention
• Warning signs and symptoms of voice problems
• Common voice injuries and their treatment
• How medical problems and medications affect the voice
• How to find the voice care team that’s right for you
• Hands-on training in healthy, efficient speaking voice technique
• Strategies for optimizing vocal warm-up
• Reducing muscle tension in singing
• Vocal pacing for optimal stamina and endurance

SPECIAL BONUS SESSION

Vocal Health in the Real World

Timothy Myers, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the North Carolina Opera, will discuss the application of principles of vocal health in a successful performing career.

Saturday, August 11, 2012
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Duke Raleigh Cancer Center
Medical Office Building 7
Lower Level Classroom
3404 Wake Forest Road
Raleigh, North Carolina

REGISTRATION: $25 (lunch included)
TO REGISTER, CALL: 919-681-4984
INFORMATION: dukevoicecare.org

Map to Cancer Center