Ivoicet – Elpida Koutsoumpaki


Training Workshops for English-speaking Voice Specialists

Dates for SLT Workshop : September 14-15, 2023  (10.00-17.30)
Dates for Singers Workshop : September 21-22, 2023 (10.00-17.30)

The goal of the Integrated Voice Therapy Training workshops is to train graduate speech therapists, training ENT doctors, singers and voice coaches in the principles of applied Voice Therapy techniques, either for clinical rehabilitation of the voice (speech therapists) or artistic voice training (singers and voice coaches).   

The training is practical, comprehensive and is developed in 3 levels, over the three 2-day workshops.

Webinar group sizes are limited to 12 participants so that the practical nature of the workshop is secured with 1-1 and team practice!

The dates and times of each workshop are commonly Friday-Saturday , 10.00-17.30. Dates and times can be modified to suit the specific circumstances of each group (eg. Thursday-Friday, instead or Friday -Saturday)

Each level is complete with :

  • on-line prep material prior to the start of each level
  • complete manual, detailing the techniques we cover in each workshop
  • during the workshop, abundant practice time for each new technique we learn, with individual and group practice
  • video recording of individual and group practice, that is distributed to the participants after each workshop, used as preparation for the next level
  • examples of real cases so that we see the actual clinical application of the techniques
  • For the speech therapy workshops, creation of complete management plan for real cases
  • live demonstration of the application of the techniques for therapy

What the Integrated Voice Therapy training workshops lead to

The techniques developed within the framework of the three levels (1,2,3 ) constitute a comprehensive and holistic person-centered approach to the training of the developing Voice Specialist.

The Integrated Voice Therapy approach brings together information and techniques from a broad spectrum of disciplines. The Mind-Body-Emotion viewpoint of the voice considers the total person in both the therapeutic and the artistic application of the work.

Speech Therapist

The workshops are ideal for Speech Therapists who want to specialize in the field of Voice Therapy and are keen to develop a deep understanding of all the complexities of voice therapy and expertise with practical, therapeutic voice therapy skills. 

With completion of the training the Speech Therapist will have a thorough grasp of  all aspects of the Mind-Body-Emotion approach to the voice. The theoretical understanding will connect with all the hands-on therapy skills. The developing voice therapist will be able to create and apply a holistic management plan for every class of dysphonic cases, including functional, organic, psychogenic, post-op trauma and neurological cases.  Besides typical dysphonic cases, the approach is also successfully applied to cases with dysphagia, Parkinsonism, dysarthria, hypernasality and stuttering.

It is understood that, despite the comprehensive training,  the multifaceted nature of the techniques and the complex needs of all cases with dysphonia, require from the training voice specialist continuous practice and engagement and persistence with the techniques, primarily on himself but also on third parties. Mastering the techniques takes time, persistence and lots of practice!

Singer – Voice Coach

With completion of the training the Singer and Voice Coach will have become scientifically literate in the workings of the voice mechanism, for all voice and singing styles.   Singing technique will be enriched far beyond more traditional understanding of the voice mechanism.

The Mind-Body-Emotion approach will demystify the intricacies of voice production and ensure a safe, versatile and efficient voice for any  type of voice use.

The artistry that the singer achieves will be explored in terms of the anatomy and physiology involved with voice production for all genres of singing. The singer will become familiar and will achieve mastery of the specific parts of the body and vocal mechanism that are involved with voice production. The Voice Coach will be assisted towards being able to guide the singer students towards safe and efficient voice use, based on pure scientific knowledge! 

Relating the emotional world to the artistic voice will help the singer unravel the difficulties associated with stage-fright, stress, fatigue, medications, etc.  In short, vocal artistry and vocal science will be in total communication!

Basic Principles of the Integrated Voice Therapy training workshops

The IVT approach to voice rehabilitation considers the person through the prism of the dynamic interplay between the Mind-Body-Emotion synergy.  Dysphonic problems are considered as an imbalance of this synergy. Voice therapy aims at rebalancing the total person.

The person with voice difficulty is trained for mechanical mastery of a wide range of options for safe and efficient voice use.  The person in taught how to become mindful of all three parameters of voicing.

At the level of the Body, the learner masters how to detect and physically manage the sensations created at various parts of the body.  Mechanical expertise of the vocal mechanism is achieved with modified versions of the biomechanical techniques developed by Jo Estill and Alison Bagnals’ Voicecraft approach.

At the level of the Mind, the learner becomes aware of subconscious instructions that manifest as habitual movement patterns and learns how to redirect and reorganize these habits.  Principles of learning theory are applied to understanding the clinical application of the techniques.

At the Emotional level, the person becomes aware of the emotional patterns related to both the mind and body aspects of the voice. The approach to emotional aspects of vocal difficulty is informed by developments in the scientific filed of affective neuroscience.

As a result of the training, voice production becomes predictable, easy and safe! It is no longer a function of the body that is beyond the person’s control, it is no longer unsafe or mysterious. Is is fun and is recognized by the learner as a tool with which s/he can listen to what the self needs in order to remain in balance!

Level 1 - Introduction
(This workshop is a 2-day workshop for both speech therapists and singers / voice coaches)

Level 1 Workshop is aimed at speech therapists, training ENT doctors, singers and voice coaches  who are interested in mastering the basic function of their own voice and the principles of the Integrated Voice Therapy approach to voice rehabilitation and training.

Workshops catering to speech therapists and ENT doctors focus on the clinical application of the approach.  

Workshops catering to singers and voice coaches focus the same techniques on artistic voice training.

The training requires foundation knowledge of laryngeal physiology and anatomy, but does not require clinical experience with rehabilitation of voice difficulties.

Content of Level 1 Workshop

  • Practical understanding of vocal function and dysfunction
  • Introduction to the principles of voice therapy with the Integrated Voice Therapy approach
  • Hands-on voice therapy techniques for management of vocal fatigue and discomfort, laryngeal muscle pain, tonal range, hypernasality, post-op trauma, functional difficulties and organic lesions:
      • Constriction-Release of laryngeal and body tension – understanding the science, developing skill for management
      • Management of laryngeal height
      • Application of 4 voice onsets
      • Management of the velar port
      • Effort – how and why effort is involved with vocal hyperfunction, how to become mindful of effort
  • Principles of learning theory applied to the voice therapy setting   
  • Techniques for managing nasality and resonance     
  • In-depth understanding of the phoniatric case and formulation of a complete rehabilitation program     
  • Understanding voice and emotion and how emotion relates to the dysphonic case     
  • Creating a management plan       

Content of Level 2 Workshop -
(Workshops for singers and voice coaches combine the content of Levels 2 & 3 into one 3-day workshop)

  •  All Level 1 techniques progress to further depth of understanding
  • Understanding muscle activation, fascia, motor control and muscle elasticit
  • Stabilizing head and neck muscle activity for stabilizing the laryngeal mechanism
  • Developing tongue control, how the tongue is critical for controlling voice skill
  • Step-by-step skills for Sob technique and modifying the Sob for therapeutic intervention and vocal artistry
  • Step-by -step skills for Twang technique and safe vocal projection in speech and song
  • Compare, contrast and control each variation that the voice can produce
  • Create intervention plans for clinical cases and incorporate all the skills learned up to this point
  • Demonstration of the application of the techniques

Content of Level 3 Workshop

  • Extending Twang and Sob for vocal rehabilitation
  • Incorporating total body muscle activation for further stabilizing the laryngeal mechanism
  • Understanding the value of balance, posture and habitual movement patterns
  • Step-by-step skills for understanding Belting (unravelled)
  • Step-by-step skills for understanding the Classical voice
  • Applying Belting to voice rehabilitation and to the artistic voice
  • Understanding laryngeal endoscopy and diagnostic parameters
  • Extending clinical management plans
  • Live demonstration of the application of the techniques

Testimonials

I think the webinar was excellent!!! For the following reasons: a) there was preparation material (BEFORE the workshop) so that we could remember things or add new knowledge to that already existing b) it offered what it claimed it would ... EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING!! We actually DID the techniques, we weren't just taught them. c) there were only 8 of us, which helped us all practice a lot d) even though it was online, I didn't feel it was lacking in anything compared to live. Plus we'll have the videos for extra practice. A new world opened before me! Shocking how the voice can recover, even in very difficult cases. I feel motivated to practice on myself and I can't wait for the next level! Thank you so much!
Konstantina Lappa
Speech Therapist
Each IVT level is separate and unique because each workshop covers the level that the trainee can fathom. So the information he receives (theoretical and practical) matures so that he can attend the next level with the information in place and ready to continue. The webinar was beneficial because after the workshop, though you might feel like you can't remember everything, the practice recording material arrives and it fills you with confidence because you remember all you learned straight away and you can practice for hours and it will stick with you. I highly recommend this workshop to my colleagues, after this experience. Elpida you have a fantastic ability to deliver clearly and concisely and that is rare. Also, each and every detail and bit of information that you deliver so generously can be decisive if we use it in the context of assessment and intervention of a patient.
Renata Dimopoulou
Speech Therapist
The Level 1 webinar was excellent. Even via Zoom it was 100% interactive with ideal use of audiovisual material. But really, I was particularly impressed by the coherence and flow of the individual modules, from the preparation material, the theories, the practical exercises, to the conclusion, everything was leading somewhere! At the same time, Elpida transforms the webinar into a unique experience for each participant, focusing on the individual needs of each one. I got a lot of information from the workshop and it helped me understand my own voice better!
Ioanna Angelidou
Speech Therapist
I want to thank you for the wonderful two day workshop we spent together. The new information from this meeting that entered my head and also my life exceeded all my expectations. I consider myself very fortunate to have been a part of this wonderful work you have done. I have already discussed and recommended this workshop to my colleagues, voice teachers. I look forward to meeting you at the Level 2 workshop and traveling even further in this adventure called voice.
Evangelia Giamaiou
Singer - Voice Coach
Dear Elpida, Thank you for giving answers to all the questions about the voice that I had collected over the years. Thank you for giving me a language with which to communicate matters of the voice that I have been looking for for years. Thank you for the detailed approach to all topics. I thank you because between your workshops and the knowledge and energy you gave me, I felt that things came into order in my mind and the chaos that had been created by the various bits knowledge acquired through years of studies, left and right with disjointed lessons, books,etc., are now brought together. Thank you for giving me the sense of safety in the knowledge that, no matter what I go through with my voice, I have a solution with your techniques, as well as your presence and I will never be afraid again. Finally, thank you for insisting that I attend the third level online, because the comfort of my home really helped me to attend the workshop with greater dedication. Finally, thank you for making me feel that I have reached another level, both as a scientist, as a singer and as a human being!! I kiss you, may God bless you and give you the strength to pass on your knowledge to as many people as possible who need it!!!
Stamatia Molloudi
Classical Voice Singer - Voice Coach
The "Journey of The Voice" as Elpida calls it, the singers' webinar, in which I had the pleasure to take part, justly holds this title, because it is an amazing journey into the complex but enchanting "voice instrument". As a soloist and teacher, I journeyed with colleagues and our travel guide Elpida, and equipped with wonderful learning material, techniques, plenty of fun and Elpida's contagious enthusiasm, we managed to break the "secret codes" that hide behind the vocal instrument, everything explained with clear and scientific "hows and whys". The techniques we already use as voice coaches and singers were interpreted, while new horizons were revealed. The mysteries, monsters and ghosts that often create a barrier in the singing process, were demystified. Throughout my years of studying, my understanding of the internal and invisible instrument of the voice was based on sensations and mimicking, which always conflicted with my way of thinking and training, since before classical singing I had studied piano and advanced theory, where in my studies every action and result had a scientific explanation. I think that the information from the Integrated Voice Therapy workshops is so targeted and informative that it is an essential tool for every singer - voice coach, of any genre of music, so as to be able to apply the techniques based not only on sensations and mimicry, but on real scientific knowledge, on the instrument itself.
Angelica Famellou
Singer - Voice Coach