Vocal Training and Care for Instructors
Tuesday, February 18
1–3 p.m.
Killam Library, B400 (basement)*
Link to register for the event (opens in new window)
“A voice is a human gift; it should be cherished and used to utter fully human speech as possible.” – Margaret Atwood
Have you ever strained your voice from lecturing, had your mic fail and had to nearly shout for the rest of your lecture, or lost your voice from a cold yet had to continue teaching? As professional voice users, instructors have high vocal loads, which puts them at elevated risk for vocal fatigue, injury, and disorders such as dysphonia/hoarseness (Cavalcante, do Nascimento & Ribeiro, 2022). A recent international metaanalysis found that approximately 41% of university professors develop voice disorders from vocal overuse or misuse, compared to a mere 6% of the general population (Azari et al., 2022). Moreover, as many as 70% of instructors experience at least one symptom of a voice disorder (Brisson et al., 2022). In this in-person session, you will learn:
- Why vocal training and care is important for instructors.
- How to engage deep breathing to support your voice.
- How to develop your vocal power, improve articulation, and find presence to better connect with your students.
- How you can use vocal variety of pitch, pace, and tone to bring life and energy to your teaching.
- Signs of vocal fatigue or injury, and tips to minimize risk and improve your vocal health.
Facilitator
Josephine Christensen, Assistant Professor, Fountain School of Performing Arts
Host
Daniella Sieukaran, Senior Educational Developer (Curriculum), Centre for Learning and Teaching
*Please note that the B400 classroom is in the basement of the Killam Library. We are aware of, and apologize for, the accessibility barriers associated with this room. If you require the use of an elevator to reach this room, one of the CLT staff will have to access the elevator with you, using their key card. Please let us know in advance so that we can facilitate a smooth and timely transition to the basement.
We also ask that participants be respectful of those with significant allergies and avoid wearing perfume, aftershave, cologne, and highly scented hairspray, soaps, lotions, and shampoos.
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