What would you consider to be the main focus of your career, or your “specialty”?
Rehabilitation of voice and swallowing complaints, diagnosis and treatment.
How did you discover your calling for your speciality? How did it start?
With research into the clinical relevance of the concept of “posture is important for voice” and the conclusion that voice and swallowing problems, in the majority, are local laryngeal events, not related to posture.
What do you love the most about your work?
Every patient is an individual, requires new non-rigid approach.
In your opinion, what qualities do you feel make an “excellent” Vocal Pedagogue?
Knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of voice production, knowing what is relevant and what is mystic, non-physiological based ideas.
Can you speak to the importance of having mentors? How have mentors influenced your life/career? Can you tell us about some of your mentors?
Good idea if the mentor is knowledgeable, aware of their influential powers that they can exert on the young student, but more important, to be aware of their limitations. Bad idea if the mentor is wrapped up in his own narcissistic needs, has no awareness and is using the student as an extension of their own unconscious grandiose fantasies and need for success.
Building Blocks – Questions about ten key areas of voice
When it comes to breathing, what are the most influential tips, insights or research findings that you would like to share with our audience?
- A good exhale ability is mandatory, the voice being a wind instrument
- Synchronization of airflow is NOT easy to achieve, given that breathing and voicing are paradoxical demands on the action of the larynx
- Exhale is a passive reverse of active breathing, if not exercised, leads to a rigid rib cage
When it comes to the larynx, what are the most influential tips, insights or research findings that you would like to share with our audience?
- Low is good, keeping laryngeal muscle in a non-strenuous state
- Keeping the habitual speaking voice as low as possible
- Soft onset while speaking is a safe voice use
- Warming down after vocal load is mandatory for health and voice durability
When it comes to the vocal folds, what are the most influential tips, insights or research findings that you would like to share with our audience?
Keep vocal folds short and bulky in a low frequency habitual use.
When it comes to acoustics/resonance, what are the most influential tips, insights or research findings that you would like to share with our audience?
Low lying relaxed vocal tract.
When it comes to registration, what are the most influential tips, insights or research findings that you would like to share with our audience?
Having good techniques to negotiate the passaggios.
When it comes to vocal health, what are the most influential tips, insights or research findings that you would like to share with our audience?
Safe voice use requires good, synchronized airflow while voicing. Soft onset while using habitual pitch for speaking.
When it comes to style, what are the most influential tips, insights or research findings that you would like to share with our audience?
Synchronized airflow.
When it comes to posture, what are the most influential tips, insights or research findings that you would like to share with our audience?
Keeping head in the midline and stopping push the head forwards WHILE TALKING OR singing.
When it comes to teaching methods or communicating complex ideas about singing, what are the most influential tips, insights or research findings that you would like to share with our audience?
In depth knowledge of anatomy and physiology of voice mechanism and breathing physiology.
Final Thoughts (Words of Wisdom, Resources)?
Be aware the internet is full of bad and inaccurate info, as well as good material.
Please note that Jacob Lieberman is not affiliated with VocalPedagogy.com and we do not disclose contact information. We hope you enjoy the interview!
