School teachers represent 11% of the patients attending voice clinics throughout the country. A teacher can use their voice for up to nine classroom hours per day – often in noisy and demanding conditions.
A performing actor, by contrast, uses their voice for a much shorter period of time – and often to a significantly more attentive audience. Actors receive years of voice training before they start performing. School teachers, in the majority of cases, receive no vocal training whatsoever.
The consequences of this can be costly – hiring a supply teacher, disruption to the class and the physical & emotional distress experienced by the teacher…
Learner outcomes
Participants will learn how to:
- Use their voice efficiently and without strain
- Preserve & nurture vocal health
- Warm-up their voice at home
- Gain attention efficiently – by improving vocal clarity and audibility
What is the content of this course?
Practical procedures for recognising and preventing vocal stress:
- Posture and its impact on breathing & voice production
- Vocal hygiene – hydration, activity and rest
- Exercises to build an efficient, audible and colourful voice
- Working with rich language texts – poetry, rhymes and song
- Learning how to warm-up your voice at home
- Applying vocal principles in the classroom
How will the course be taught?
- Introductory talk
- Identification and clarification of learners’ outcomes
- Demonstration of exercises
- Practical group exercises
- Working in pairs using peer support and feedback
- Master class – individual coaching within group context
- Discussion, questions and answers, clarification
What next?
Participants will receive links to local and national resources for voice care and an aide-memoir with practical voice care tips.