Singing Teachers and World Voice Day

THIS ARTICLE IS THE SECOND in what will be a series of "reminders" to the singing teacher community.1 World Voice Day has become an established celebration in the United States and elsewhere; however, involvement still includes primarily otolaryngologists and speech-language pathologists. Singing teachers should be at the forefront of this event that provides internationally recognition of the importance of the human voice. Unfortunately, the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and singing teachers in general have been conspicuously absent from World Voice Day activities. Most of the singing teachers who have been active have participated as members of vocal health care teams with laryngologists and speech pathologists. World Voice Day events and celebrations initiated and directed by singing teachers and singers remain rare; but NATS members should be creative, driving forces in World Voice Day activities.

In April 1999, Brazilian otolaryngologists established National Voice Week. This event was inspired by data from the World Health Organization that showed a high rate of laryngeal cancer in Brazil. Colleagues around the world recognized the value of this initiative. A variety of societies began collaborating, including the European Laryngological Association (www.elsoc.org), American Laryngological Association (ALA; www.alahns.org), the Voice Foundation (www.voicefoundation.org), American Broncho-Esophagological Association (www.abea.net), Turkish Professional Voice Association (www. professional-voice.org [in Turkish]), American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS; www.entnet.org), and others, as reviewed previously.2

The AAO-HNS, Voice Foundation, ALA and other organizations collaborated to celebrate the first "World Voice Day" in the United States on April 16, 2003. This effort was coordinated with societies in numerous other countries. The World Voice Day tradition has continued and expanded. Additional information, with a history of World Voice Day, can be found at www.ent net.org/AboutUs/historyWorldVoiceDay.cfm.

Annually, the April 16 celebration involves educational and media events throughout the world, as well as web-based educational initiatives that can be accessed through the AAO-HNS special internet website at www.entnet. org/news/voiceday.cfm. Events vary from city to city and are organized by laryngologists and voice team members who are committed to enhancing voice care through professional and public education. Singing teachers are uniquely positioned to champion such activities within their communities alone or, ideally, in collaboration with vocal health care professionals. Organizing such events and inviting laryngologists and speech-language pathologists to participate would not only provide valuable education to our communities and enhance awareness of the importance of the voice, but it would also provide an opportunity for singing teachers to play pivotal roles in networking with other voice care professionals.

World Voice Day celebration events through the world vary greatly. In some cities, they include relatively low-key concerts and vocal health screenings. In Portugal, they have included national events involving all school children, televised concerts, and major governmental support. In Philadelphia, under the sponsorship of The Voice Foundation, World Voice Day events have included authors' readings of children's stories to several hundred elementary school children (with an introduction highlighting the importance of vocal health), lectures on voice care for various disciplines, concerts, actors workshops, comedy club presentations, and other events to celebrate the human voice.

World Voice Day represents an opportunity to increase awareness of vocal health and performance among members of the general public and the medical professions, highlighting advances in voice diagnosis and treatment in the United States and internationally. NATS and its members have a long-standing commitment to healthy singing and speaking. NATS members should avail themselves of this opportunity to highlight the human voice to the general public and to our students. All of us should utilize World Voice Day as an opportunity to familiarize ourselves with the latest advances in laryngology, voice science, and singing pedagogy, and a chance to help educate our students, colleagues, patients, and communities through lectures, free voice screenings, and other community outreach projects. The great strides in voice diagnosis and treatment that have occurred over the last three decades have changed dramatically the standard of care for all voice patients. They have also had significant influence upon voice training. We should avail ourselves of every opportunity to educate ourselves and the public about the current state of the art, and we should encourage the public and the media to support voice education and research.

[Sidebar]

We like March, his shoes are purple,

He is new and high;

Makes he mud for dog and peddler,

Makes he forest dry;

Knows the adder's tongue his coming,

And begets her spot.

Stands the sun so close and mighty

That our minds are hot.

News is he of all the others;

Bold it were to die

With the blue-birds buccaneering

On his British sky.

"March," Emily Dickinson

NOTES

1. Robert T. Sataloff, "World Voice Day," Journal of Singing 66, no. 3 (January/February 2010): 299-300.

2. R.T. Sataloff, "Editorial: World Voice Day," Ear Nose Throat Journal 84, no. 3 (March 2005): 123; R.T. Sataloff, "Editorial: World Voice Day: An Update," Ear Nose Throat Journal 88, no. 2 (February 2009): 764; R.T. Sataloff, "Editorial: World Voice Day 2010," Ear Nose Throat Journal 89, no. 3 (March 2010): 100.

[Author Affiliation]

Robert T. Sataloff, MD, DMA, Associate Editor

[Author Affiliation]

Robert T. Sataloff, MD, DMA is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Academic Specialties at Drexel University College of Medicine. He is also on the faculty at Thomas Jefferson University, the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, and the Academy of Vocal Arts. Dr. Sataloff was Conductor of the Thomas Jefferson University Choir and Orchestra for nearly four decades. He is director of The Voice Foundation's annual symposium on Care of the Professional Voice. Dr. Sataloff is also a professional singer and singing teacher. He holds an undergraduate degree from Haverford College in Music Composition, graduated from Jefferson Medical College, received a DMA in Voice Performance from Combs College of Music, and completed his Residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Michigan. He also completed a Fellowship in Otology, Neurotology, and Skull Base Surgery at the University of Michigan. Dr. Sataloff is Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Voice Foundation and of the American Institute for Voice and Ear Research. He is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Voice, Editor-in-Chief of the Ear, Nose and Throat Journal, an Associate Editor of the Journal of Singing, and on the Editorial Board of Medical Problems of Performing Artists and numerous major otolaryngology journals in the United States. Dr. Sataloff has written over 750 publications, including thirty-nine books. Dr. Sataloff's medical practice is limited to care of the professional voice and to otology/neurotology/skull base surgery.