<p>DD has expressed interest in eventually becoming a singing voice specialist/ voice therapist. From what we can gather, there are no formal training or fellowship programs in this area. She is guessing she should major in vocal performance and follow up with some speech pathology. Is vocal performance the best route (vs music education or therapy)? Any suggestions as to colleges or teachers that have a special interest in this area?</p>
<p>There are some schools who have music therapy and very good vocal programs. Just research on internet and ask around. Good luck!</p>
<p>This would be a fascinating field for a person with the right combination of musical/scientific talent and interest. Vanderbilt Voice Center is a leader for training, and their speech path department is top-notch. There’s probably not any one direct career path, but an exciting opportuinty to create your own. Lots of good information from the following links. Contact Erickson and Cleveland for advice.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/reporter/index.html?ID=2022[/url]”>http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/reporter/index.html?ID=2022</a>
<a href=“http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/reporter/index.html?ID=2019[/url]”>http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/reporter/index.html?ID=2019</a>
<a href=“VUMC Information Technology”>VUMC Information Technology;
<a href=“Audiology and Speech Pathology | UTHSC”>Audiology and Speech Pathology | UTHSC;
<p>Foglikely,
You might try PMing CoachC, who posts requently on the Musical Theatre thread. She is a masters candidate from the Pittsburgh area who is a vocal coach/thearapist. She is working in exactly the area your D is interested in. Do an advanced search on CoachC’s name to read some of her posts about vocal health and to PM her.</p>
<p>To work as a voice therapist requires certification in almost every state, through speech pathology accreditation. It has absolutely nothing to do with music therapy, but rather voice therapy addresses acute and chronic functional and organic vocal dysfunctions. While speech timbre and efficiency is part of the evaluation process of the voice therapist, singers are the most sensitive to variations in their voices and they and their teachers are most likely to seek the help of a professional who can diagnose and guide a recovery process (sometimes medical intervention is needed, but most often functional voice therapy is successful, even when there is a functionally caused physical abnormality). Most good voice teachers, who carefully monitor and teach technical issues, do “voice therapy” but professional speech pathologists claim this arena of care. However, when this field was in its infancy, it was certain reknown voice teachers who actually taught medical students, instructing them as to vocal sounds, functions, ranges, etc., and how the voice teacher would coax and guide a healthy function from the voice. </p>
<p>The most successful approach to combining these two fields would be to consider a double major in voice and speech pathology, perhaps through a BS or BA program. I do not think there are any voice therapy majors offered within music curriculums because of the accreditation requirements. Good luck.</p>
<p>Actually, the minimum professional degree for licensure/certification in speech pathology is the master’s, so a double degree (BA or BS) won’t work. Would suggest looking for an undergrad vocal performance program at a university with a good solid pre-professional bachelor’s program in speech path/communication science and disorders. You could possibly take some basic speech path (anatomy and physiology) and communication science (acoustics) classes as electives for the vocal performance degree. Having some basic coursework completed at the undergrad level and a clearly interesting career goal will definitely be a big help for grad school acceptance in speech pathology.</p>
<p>i’m a voice major and a linguistics major @ mcgill university, although i don’t plan to go into speech pathology, work as a singer and as a linguistics major (concentrating in phonetics) is an excellent way to prepare yourself for such a career!</p>
<p>Thanks for the input!</p>
<p>Absolutely correct about needing masters degree for accreditation, but the issue is that the prerequisites of undergraduate program will be there, hence the suggestion of BA or BS including both disciplines, if interest is in voice therapy with sensativity to approach issues with singers.</p>
<p>Absolutely correct about needing masters degree for accreditation, but the issue is that the prerequisites of undergraduate program will be there, hence the suggestion of BA or BS including both disciplines, if interest is in voice therapy with sensativity to approach issues with singers. Several PHD/MD otolaryngologists I have known have gone back to school for voice training as singers, recognizing the need for musical training.</p>
<p>What if you didn’t know you wanted to become a voice specialist until you got into a speech path program? I have 10 years of trained singing experience and was on voice scholarship in undergrad. I took basic music theory courses but in undergrad thought I was going to go into biochemistry so I didn’t have the time for both the Voice performance major, an intense science curriculum and the jobs I was holding. I am now in Speech path and want to work in a voice clinic desperately! Is it a better idea to go back and get a BA in Voice Performance? Or would a Speech Path PhD in Voice look comparable? I’m also looking into as many seminars etc. as possible. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>Speechie - I’m a certified speech-language pathologist as well as audiologist, (master’s in both areas), as well as mom to an Eastman Rogers Scholar vocal performance major. I would recommend the Ph.D. in Voice to practice in the area you’re looking to specialize in - everybody with a Ph.D. in Speech Path. has a specific area of expertise - and different Speech Path. university programs are known for different specializations and professors - look for ones with the strong Voice profs. and programs. My Master’s Voice professor, (25 years ago), also had a private practice outside of the university in this very area, where many of us completed clinical practicums. Feel free to PM me with any questions.</p>