VOCAL HEALTH AND SPECIAL NEEDS
Over the years I have learned a lot about teaching students with dyslexia, dyspraxia, physical disabilities and other special needs. I have come to love these challenges and the immense rewards that accompany them when a student blossoms and flourishes in ways that neither they, nor I, thought possible. Sadly, some singers have walked into my studio either burnt out or with nodules and I have been entrusted with the awesome and sensitive task of rebuilding several damaged voices. In these circumstances I have been acutely aware of the huge amount of trust invested in me by these students who come in a very vulnerable state and I have felt the responsibility hugely. Although often daunting, this painstaking process of diagnosis and rehabilitation is hugely rewarding when one sees these damaged voices (and often damaged people!) return to good vocal health and confidence and, in some circumstances, begin a very successful singing career. Again in situations like these there is no substitute for taking things slowly.
Some Lovely Testimonials
“I started working with Kath aged 15 years old. I was in the midst of many vocal issues having pushed my voice singing too much musical theatre in an unhealthy manner. After seeing an ENT and a period of vocal rest, Kath worked with me and helped me slowly build my voice back up again. It was a slow process building everything up from the very bottom. 6 year later, I now have a completely free voice, which is completely down to Kath’s patience, guidance and excellent teaching. I still absolutely love my singing lessons with Kath and still learn new things from her every lesson. I can now sing with understanding and vocal freedom and with real joy. I’m so happy”
Ben Crawford. 4th year student at RCS.
“I came to Kath an anxious, inexperienced singer suffering from severe neck and shoulder pain. Going to choir had become a challenge and I was considering giving up.
Kath listened to all of my issues, explaining many aspects of singing to me, including the impact on the body. She explained about mechanisms in the body I had never thought would have any relation to singing. Posture, movement, breathing correctly and even relaxation are an essential part of every lesson. With her lovely, warm and uplifting personality Kath has been able to make me feel more at ease and do the seemingly impossible: sing on my own with somebody else listening. Drawing on her huge repertoire Kath has identified several issues, teaching me ways to resolve them, both with regards to my singing as well as my health. Singing lessons are demanding and hard work but Kath’s patience and encouragement keep me going and I find improvement with every single lesson. Because I live on an island, we have our lessons over Zoom which works very well. Kath is very creative in coming up with methods of teaching effectively, just as if we were in the same room.
A gifted musician and amazing teacher with substantial knowledge of a variety of health issues, Kath has been able to make a great difference to my well-being and, on top of it all, Kath makes me sing”
Susanne Keip.