Filed under: voice
In day to day life, we often do not think about our speaking voice unless it is causing us problems, and it is only then that we sit up and take note. I wrote about a personal experience of this following an acute bout of laryngitis that I had last year. Like many things in life, prevention is the best cure, and knowing how to take care of our voice can reduce the likelihood of voice problems. But it is not just about preventing problems, there is great value in freeing the voice and (re)-learning how to use it effectively, be it for speaking or singing.
Over the last two years, I have started to run workshops for ‘professional voice users’ and amateur singers on voice care and freeing the voice. My next workshop will be on 9th April from 7.30pm-9.30pm in Clonakilty, and is open to people who are members of Clonakilty Favour Exchange. For further information about this or other workshops, feel free to contact me directly.
March 28, 2013
I will be running a voice care workshop for primary and secondary school teachers at West Cork Education Centre on Monday 22nd October from 6.30pm-9.30pm. Contact West Cork Education Centre for further information. I also have some voice care tips on my website.
October 7, 2012
I have just joined Clonakilty Favour Exchange, and am now offering sessions in voice care for professional voice users, voice therapy, and pre-natal music therapy as favours to others in the scheme. For more information, click here.
October 7, 2012
A recent bout of laryngitis, brought me for a short time, into the world of someone experiencing a voice problem. While in my working life, I frequently work with people who are hoarse, I had, up until recently, never experienced this myself. The laryngitis came on suddenly, starting with a sore throat, which ironically started during a voice therapy session. Within a few hours I was quite hoarse, but could still use my voice. I assumed that a good night’s sleep would sort this out, but the following day I had no voice at all, and this continued for the next few days. By the fourth day, a voice had come back but it didn’t seem to be mine, as people commented on how different I sounded. In the end it took a week for my voice to get back to normal, and even with that, I had to be aware of how I used my voice for the following week or two. It was quite a shock to open my mouth and find no sound come out, and it gave me some direct insight into what it was like to experience voice loss.
So, what did I do…well I decided I had better follow some of my own advice….
I increased my water intake, drinking a lot of lukewarm water with honey.
I rested as much as possible.
I stopped drinking coffee.
I avoided coughing and throat clearing as much as possible.
I did not answer the phone or make phone calls.
I limited how much I spoke. The hardest aspect of this was with my own children.
I used a lot of creative gesture and signing!
I cancelled clients as I didn’t think they’d appreciate my voice quality when doing speech or voice work!
And what was the hardest part of this illness…it was not being able to read stories to my three year old….but we’ve made up for it since!
April 8, 2012
Due to unforseen circumstances the Workshops, ‘Music and Voice for Pregnancy and Childbirth’, and ‘Natural Therapies for Mum and Baby: Birth and Beyond’, have been rescheduled to Saturday 19th November at the Emmet Hotel, Clonakilty. Please see flyer for further details. 
October 29, 2011
Following a summer teacher training course which I ran in July in Clonakilty, I was kindly invited to present some information about voice care to teachers at a local primary school last week. Teachers are a profession who have heavy demands placed on the their voices every working day. I have listed some of the useful links relating to voice care on my website.
September 7, 2011
Alexander Technique Awareness Week runs from the 9th to the 18th of October to raise awareness of the technique internationally. The Irish Society of Alexander Technique Teachers is organising events across Ireland to coincide with this week.
Amongst the events happening around Ireland, Cork Alexander Technique (AT) Teachers will host a Family Open Day at the Unitarian Church, Princes Street, Cork on the Sunday 11th of October from 2pm to 5pm. AT Teachers will offer free treatments on the day and free family entertainment will be available. There is a special prize for the child in the best skeleton costume. A café market will be providing snacks and light refreshments and people will have the opportunity to avail of reduced price treatments when they attend on Sunday.
Significant long-term benefit from Alexander Technique lessons for low back pain has been demonstrated by a major study published by the British Medical Journal on 20th August 2008.
The Alexander Technique can also help you if:
- You suffer from repetitive strain injury or carpal tunnel syndrome.
- You have a backache or stiff neck and shoulders.
- You become uncomfortable when sitting at your computer for long periods of time.
- You are a singer, musician, actor, dancer or athlete and feel you are not performing at your full potential.
Actors, musicians, sportsmen use the technique to improve their performance, help them with stress and nerves and look after their posture. “The Alexander Technique helped a long-standing back problem and to get a good night’s sleep after many years of tossing and turning,” said Paul Newman, actor.
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Information forwarded from: Rosemary Moone
Teacher of the Alexander Technique
t 021 4311411 e rosemary.moone@upcmail.ie
w www.isatt.ie
September 27, 2009