The Truth About Voice Coaches

I’m just going to say it!!

Voice coaches, singing teachers, and speaking coaches who don’t have any background or formal training in voice anatomy, function, accurate voice health, vocal injuries and rehabilitation (voice pathology) or specialized treatment are not qualified to be providing or promoting services that claim to heal, rehabilitate or mitigate voice changes.

I believe we are powerful beyond our understanding and have innate energetic healing abilities. AND I believe in science, training and clinical experience, plus the crucial need for assessments that actually allow for proper visual screenings of voice quality, function and potential risk factors for injury.

Prevention and proactive voice exploration to feel more confident with your voice and speaking is one thing.  Voice injury, disorders and chronic symptoms that go unchecked is another. Today, I am talking about the latter. Especially because I continue to see far too many people cross the line and lower the standard. A website, of someone who teaches musical instruments and sound healing, indicates they will help voices improve from illness & stress, including voice loss. There is no indication of any certified voice experience or specialized training.

This is just one of many instances of I have seen over the years, from vocal coaches, speaker-stage trainers, singing teachers to the random YouTuber who took 3 voice lessons and considers themselves an expert doling out (sometimes harmful) advice. And yet, they are providing services to people who have weak, scratchy or fatigued voices.  This is unacceptable.  
I have encountered a few vocal coaches who are targeting certain populations of people with diagnosed voice disorders and yet, even when we have a 1:1 conversation about the questionable ethics & concerns, they dismiss it.  Instead of referring a person to a certified Speech & Voice Pathologist, these voice coaches, singing teachers and musicians claim they can cure them. There could be a myriad of reasons why those symptoms exist and it is irresponsible to proceed without first understanding if an underlying structural or mechanical issue exists. There are still so many vocal myths and incorrect anecdotes that abound. The standard has to be higher!

During my 13+ years in clinical voice specialization, person after person came in for evaluation saying things like:

• “I was told the hoarseness/scratchiness would just get better on its own” or
• “she told me to make ______sound every day and that would make me talk clearer” or
• “They said to go on voice rest for a month” .

These things made them worse, not better. When asked if they were ever advised to get the voice changes evaluated by an ENT/Laryngologist, Specialist Speech-Voice Pathologist or at minimum to tell their physician, the resounding reply was “No.”
For months longer than was necessary, they struggled with their voice, which ultimately disrupted their communication, connection with others and in frequent cases, negatively impacted their livelihood.    High-risk populations include: teachers/educators, nurses, coaches, public speakers, preachers, lawyers, realtors, customer service representatives, executives, podcasters, voice-over artists, etc. 
Many of these folks have underlying changes to their voice structure and vocal fold tissue that require a specialized plan of care.

Most people don't realize the importance of this issue until it's too late.  That's why I will continue to educate and shift the narrative.  

What would you do if you didn't have a voice?

Proactively care for your voice, the way you do the rest of your body. Be your best advocate for higher quality and verified services.

• I believe in custom specialty approaches, as every voice is unique.
• I believe in more preventive education, and led my clients with evidence and experience based holistic voice care.
• I believe in collaboration with high-quality, open-minded providers and trainers who recognize scope of practice and believe in possibilities
• I believe in 2nd opinions, and that if symptoms are present, they need to be assessed before any preventative or rehabilitative work begins.  (Especially if your voice coach claims they "cured vocal nodes!" a.k.a. vocal nodules. Just no.  Definitely get assessed). 
  
  

If you are considering preventative voice training and conditioning to enhance your speaking voice to a natural, reliable, vibrant way of expressing to increase speaking confidence, eliminate up speak and communicate with more ease, 
​OR if you have started to notice weakness, tension, hoarseness, change in pitch or volume, pain, etc., that has persisted longer than 2 weeks, I strongly encourage you to do your due diligence and properly review who you are considering working with before jumping in.  It could save you months of little to no progress, 
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If you or someone you know is struggling with voice changes, I am happy to chat and provide complimentary guidance via: 
*Voice Screenings (short and simple, I ask some questions about voice use, have you do a few vocalizing tasks and listen for certain characteristics)
*Advocacy Prep: Review important questions you can ask providers or coaches (as you are your best advocate!), and ensure you have more clarity to make a fully informed decision.

**If you desire a more in-depth, customized review of your voice, it's strengths and areas to focus on so that you harness your instrument to speak with ease and power, then consider a Voice Review: Explore Strengths of Your Voice to Elevate Your Communication, currently offered through the platform Vibly
 
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