What is Vocology

1. In "What is Vocology," the authors make a point of distinguishing between "habilitation" and
"rehabilitation." Why? What do you think the significance is of this word "habilitate"?

Habilitation is the process of creating a solid foundation of vocal technique in order to equip a
voice professional to use their voice in a healthy enough way to lead to longevity in their career.
Rehabilitation is the process of healing and repairing previously damaged vocal folds. The word
“habilitation” is important because it is fundamental for singers and other people who use their voice
professionally to ensure they never damage their voice enough to need rehabilitation in the first place.

2. The authors list 5 "objectives of Vocology;" write a bit about one that particularly resonates with you.

The objective that resonated the most with me was the “feel good” objective. This is the whole
reason why I love singing and enjoy teaching it. Singing and other vocalization is a medium of self-
expression that is primal and instinctual for all humans. Learning how to healthfully emote with the
voice has a positive overall effect on mental health in addition to being fun!

3. Did the authors claim that certain voice disorders are a "women's health issue" surprise you? Why?

I was not surprised because as a woman, I know that my own voice can be affected by my
monthly cycle. Women have a whole entire field of health devoted to us because we have a complex
set of organs that control our hormonal balances, which have an effect on the voice. For example, if
we have too much testosterone our range may get deeper, or too much estrogen can cause it to get
higher. An imbalance of progesterone can cause weight gain and irregular periods, which have an
effect on our organs and how they press up against our diaphragm. There are just so many things that
affect our health and our voices. We also speak and sing at higher frequencies, which causes more
vibration, more friction, and more of a likelihood for potential damage.

4. Do you agree that we need a "National Campaign" as the authors suggest?

Yes because the vast majority of the population uses their voice for work, but yet so few of
them are aware of the risks they take with their vocal health and how that may affect their ability to
work in the future. If more people had the courage to speak up to alter environments in public spaces
to be “voice friendly”, fewer people would be at risk for vocal injury.

5. Do you think that Voice teachers can model their teaching on the authors' "behaviorial medicine"
model?

Yes, I think that all effective teachers must be doing this already and if they haven’t been, they
are not good teachers. A good teacher always has skill acquisition in mind at the forefront of their
teaching practice, backed by compassion, logic, and love. With an instrument as finicky and delicate
as the human voice I think it’s very important for teachers to constantly check and help their students
modify their behaviors right as they become noticeable, no matter how picky that seems.

Science and Art

1. All of Garcia's detractors shared a profession in common; what significance do you think this
has had for the history of the field?
 It is hard for me to say what significance this has had for the field since I am so new
to it. I think the fact that most of his detractors were other doctors might have led to a lot of
distrust among voice professionals, especially between doctors and voice teachers. I think it is
so good that we are learning to work together again through the field of vocology.

2. What is "empiricism"?

Empiricism is the application of real world practical experience to teaching, which has actually
been fairly effective not just for me and my own voice teachers in the past, but for many other voice
teachers as well. If it works and feels good, it works.

3. Who was William Vennard?

He was a voice teacher and author who happened to teach the great Marilyn Horne. He wrote
the book “Singing: The Mechanism and the Technic” which finally provided a peaceful marriage of the
concepts of vocal science (vocology) and empiricism. He showed the vocal world that the two can live
in harmony!

4. According to the author (Helding), what is the field that can synthesize voice science and vocal
art? What does the author say is the "sweeping change" in voice pedagogy?

“The discipline of voice pedagogy can lay aside the either-or proposition of science versus
intuition, and turn instead to the field of cognitive science for a possible synthesis of scientific and
empirical training”. The sweeping change In vocal pedagogy is the ability of voice professionals to
switch emphasis from “how well people teach, to how well people learn.” This means that the focus
must shift from the ego of the teacher and scientist to the vocal health and wellbeing of the student,
patient, or research subject. This also means that science and vocal art must merge together to create
new joint advances in the field of vocal pedagogy as well as vocology.

Text: Your Voice an Inside View

1.Explain the physiological difference between breath support and breath control.

Breath support is the system through which breath is allowed through the vocal folds. Breath
control is how the singer allows the air to exit their body through the act of singing.

2. McCoy discusses "anatomical differences between the sexes" as accounting for what specific
differences in breathing technique?

Women are capable of breathing lower because we have more organs pushing up against our
diaphragm.

3. What is McCoy's opinion of "Hands-On Teaching"?