NATS Events

April 16 marks the celebration of World Voice Day, established to build awareness of the human voice. Started in 1999 by a group of Brazilian voice care professionals as Brazilian Voice Day, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) communicated with colleagues from Brazil and Europe to establish April 16 as a global day of recognition. They have sponsored the U.S. observance of World Voice Day since 2002.

World Voice Day focuses on educating the public about the importance of the human voice and the need for preventative care, encouraging people to assess their vocal health and to improve good voice habits. This year's theme, "We Share A Voice," seeks to remind us of the value and significance of vocal health in every day life.

While various groups in the U.S. and abroad are holding events to celebrate World Voice Day, the New York City chapter of National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS-NYC) is presenting a workshop entitled Body Issues/Somatic Solutions: Tools for the Singing Studio. This promising event will focus on exploring teaching tools and strategies from outside the voice studio in an ongoing endeavor to offer new insights and approaches to NATS members during their work inside the voice studio.

The interdisciplinary workshop will address physical problems encountered in the singing studio from a variety of body-learning disciplines: Alexander Technique, Body Mapping, Feldenkrais, and Yoga. Four expert somatic educators will present their perspectives on physical impediments to singing including body misalignment, poorly coordinated breathing, global and localized physical tension, and a lack of sensory/kinesthetic awareness.

According to workshop chair Sarah Hoover, “the aim is to introduce the wealth of resources available and to foster the development of a well-equipped studio ‘toolbox,’ rather than espouse one particular disciplinary approach or to give attendees an ‘amuse-bouche’ of this or that discipline.”

Three case studies will be presented. Clinicians will spend time with each student's body "issue," demonstrating a disciplinary approach to resolving the issue. A round-table discussion will follow. Attendees are welcome to bring their questions and observations to the discussion. Resources for learning more about the applications of Alexander Technique, Body Mapping, Feldenkrais, and Yoga to teaching singing will be available.

The Chairperson for the NATS NYC workshop, Dr. Sarah Adams Hoover, Vice President of NATS-NYC and a prominent practitioner of body mapping herself, has gathered together an interdisciplinary panel of clinicians and round table participants including Bonnie Draina (singing and Body Mapping), Rebecca Gardiner (Feldenkrais), Suzanne Jackson (yoga for singers), Anne Waxman (Alexander Technique), Heather Buchanan (conductor and Body Mapping instructor), Sophie Lair-Berreby (SVS and orthophoniste), and Jeanie LoVetri (SVS and developer of Somatic VoiceWorks).

Space is limited. To reserve a seat, email Sarah Hoover at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by Thursday, April 14 (payment will be collected at the door). Space permitting, additional seats will be available at the door. The workshop is free to NATS-NYC members, $10 for students with a valid ID, $25 for all others (includes a complimentary membership to NATS-NYC through October 2011). Visit www.nats-newyorkcity.org for further information and directions.

Additional educational information about the voice is available at the AAO-HNS website on topics such as How the Voice Works and Vocal Health at Every Age, along with voice assessment and vocal warm up tools.