Webb- Vocal Health

MUSIC 23241: MUSIC TEACHING AS A PROFESSION
Mr. Marcus L. Neiman, Assistant Professor
Kent State University School of Music
Fall, 2011

CRN:  200910 – Section number: 001 – Class Days: TR 7:45a – 8:35 am - Classroom: SOM E202
Office: Band Office - 330.672.2965 - Telephone: 330.672.2965 (Kent Campus) - E-mail: mneiman@kent.edu
Office Hours: TR 9:00 – 9:55 am (Additional hours available by appointment)

BlackBoard and Text Readings

Submitted by:  Emily Young
Submitted for: Mr. Marcus L. Neiman, lecturer
Date: November 29, 2011

Webb, Jeffrey L. (2007). Promoting vocal health in the choral rehearsal.
  Music Educators Journal. (May). Pages 26-31. 

    Vocal musicians only get one instrument that can’t be repaired.  Therefore, singers must take very good care of their voice.  Singing is a lot of work and requires the entire body.  Choir directors are a big factor in helping their ensemble students have better vocal health.  Jeffrey Webb offers several tips to choir directors that can make a difference in the sound of their ensemble.
    As a singer and a future choir director, tips on vocal health are very useful to me.  I can use this information now when I have to sing in choir.  I will also be able to use these helpful tips with my choir students.  I am very aware of the care that is needed to keep the voice healthy. While, I know I can’t control what my students do outside of the choir room, I can certainly encourage good vocal health in the classroom.
    Some of these tips were little things that I never would have thought of doing. Such as having students give each other shoulder massages and doing cool down exercises at the end of a rehearsal.  There were also some really good warm-up tips offered in this article that I will likely use with any ensembles I direct.  I feel that this article was a very good read and provided a lot of good information. I agree with all of the points the Webb made, the voice is very important and requires proper care.