VOICE UNBOUND ™
TEACHER TRAINING
Tools for VOICE teachers WORKING WITH STUDENTS WITH JOINT HYPERMOBILITY.
We are deeply invested in being supportive and effective teachers,
and it's so gratifying when a student has a breakthrough and lights up with joy.
My particular circumstances have revealed information about vocal support that can facilitate more of that delight and satisfaction for you and your students.
​
Since I can't personally teach everyone who can benefit from this work, and since there are so many (up to 40% of the population has some combination and severity of ligamentous laxity, not to mention the substantial benefits for standard bodies), it's time for me to teach this work to other teachers who want to add this vocal support work to their repertoire.
This course will be available on-line as "in person" will only be possible post Covid 19.
Master Classes and on-going Workshops are also available.
​
I look forward to supporting you as you help free your students into
the realms of communication, artistry, and creation.
​
MONICA
When I brought up
joint hyper-mobility as
a possible factor in
my vocal struggles,
I was met with
blank stares.
I could find
NOTHING FOR VOICE TEACHERS ABOUT HOW LIGAMENTOUS LAXITY,
AFFECTS VOCAL PRODUCTION OR THE ROLE IT MIGHT PLAY IN VOCAL COMPROMISE.
There is limited, disparate and disjointed information on hyper mobility in general, enough to synthesize the general principles of
joint hyper mobility management.
For over 30 years I experienced
career stalling vocal compromise
after every lesson, master class, rehearsal or performance.
I can't tell you how many times I gave up. I diligently applied the technique I was being taught and invariably the technique would fail me.
During one of those extended breaks from singing, I was surprised to learn that I have joint-hypermobility.
Focused
identification of the anatomical source of my own auditory and physical symptoms of disfunction revealed conflicts with commonly accepted vocal pedagogic methods.
LESSONS FROM HYPERMOBILITY™
is the result of that work,
applying
specific and augmented general hypermobility management principles
to the functioning of
the vocal support system.
This work is
essential for
people with obviously
lax tendons and ligaments
and creates
unprecedented efficiencies for non-hypermobile vocalists,
releasing them to explore gratifying refinements and interpretive work
with their teachers.
As my awareness grew,
I noticed
how many students had similar "stuff" going on
and
noticed how many vocalists struggled through master-classes, behind podiums and on stages while displaying similar symptoms of disfunction and discomfort.
I began to modify how I use my body in general and discovered that my vocal quality and stamina were changing.
Here is an example of just ONE ADJUSTMENT made in the LESSONS FROM HYPERMOBILITY™ process. While far from a "polished" sound, the change is dramatic and repeatable.
After extensive work addressing the usual suspects of held tension, the teacher called me to help identify the source of this student's unstable vibrato.
The exercise we had her do was diagnostic. It helped us locate a major source of the vocal instability.
(In teacher training we'll talk about the function of the arm placement in this particular instance).
Our next steps will be to help her reorganize how she creates an environment for making sound
in a way that works with how her body works.
BEFORE
30 SECONDS LATER
I love the look of concentration, amazement and delight.
VOICE UNBOUND ™
TEACHER TRAINING
FOUNDATION WORK
​
WE'LL ADDRESS:
Why
we’ve never talked about Ligamentous Laxity in the context of vocalization,
let alone in vocal pedagogy before.
Why
you’ve reached the limits of “standard”
Support & Placement protocols
with your ligamentously lax Vocalists.
How hyper mobility can affect vocal production
and
why what we learn from that can positively affect how we teach voice to standard bodies.
How and when
to identify
a potentially
Hyper-mobile vocalist
Why
it’s important
to add
an understanding of ligamentous laxity
in the context of
vocalization.
How to rethink
Support and Placement protocols
in light of
Ligamentous
Laxity.
The missing pieces
in how we talk about
"support"
What hyper mobility is
and
what it is not
Overall changes in approach when working with a hyper mobile student
and
why this change in approach can liberate your standard body students too.
Why, when, and how
to adjust
Vocal Support
and
Placement Protocols
for your Ligamentously Lax Vocalists
​
including:
The specific structural and muscular sequence needed by Ligamentously Lax vocalists to set up optimal fully embodied vocal support for unconstricted vocalization
​
(and why this can be useful for apparently nonhyper-mobile vocalists too).
Breathing adjustments for the hyper and non-hypermobile vocalist
“I had one of my high school girls doing some of the... movements while she sang through a piece and it was STAGGERING how CONSISTENT her SOUND became.
It made me tear up at the sheer scope of it.
My body is just so very different than that."
ELIZABETH WELLS
Voice Teacher / Operatic Soprano
"Singing is release of energy and expression. Both are hard when there's so much tension, and managing the tension is so distracting. No one could fix it. It got to the point that I didn't want to sing anymore.
Monica gave me one thing to do and a problem I had for my whole life was fixed in a week and a half. I know it sounds too good to be true.
Now I can feel what everyone has been talking about. Now I can apply the things I learned in all the years of training and I can apply them correctly. My work with my teacher can take off. I'm allowing myself to be hopeful and even excited that singing can be fun again.
JESSIE M
Voice Teacher/Hyper-Mobile Singer
