About Session
Research reveals that understanding the nature and extent of age-related voice decline juxtaposed with the positive impact of regular singing is key to developing interventions that may delay, slow down, or even remediate certain technical issues. Continued vocal training regimens may stimulate neuroplasticity, and delay or reverse symptoms of cognitive decline, however, senior singers do not typically continue training. Karen and Joanne’s joint presentation proposes a new paradigm for those who aspire to work effectively with older singers. Equipped with appropriate knowledge of the impacts of aging on the voice, accompanied by realistic expectations, technical tools and concepts, singing teachers can have a significant and positive influence regardless of the age of the singer. The presenters have years of research, study and experience on this topic. Author of The Evolving Singing Voice: Changes Across the Lifespan, Karen has written and presented extensively on aging voice. She has personal experience with voice change, and a portion of her studio is made up of older singers. Joanne has also encountered age-related voice changes, and has a special interest in how hormones effect the voice throughout the female lifespan. She is co-author of Singing Through Change: Women’s Voices in Midlife, Menopause, and Beyond.
