Clinician
»
I am fortunate to have been a student of
David Blair McClosky
for my
master’s degree in voice at Boston Conservatory
(1978-80). While studying with McClosky, I became
fascinated with the physiology of the voice, and took a
minor in voice therapy, with a practicum at the Voice
Therapy Clinic at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.
There I worked with patients suffering from many voice
disorders, teaching them how to use the voice in a
healthier way and reducing their problems. This work has
followed me wherever I go, from Peoria ENT Group in
Illinois to the Emory Voice Center in Atlanta.
In 1981 when the
McClosky Institute was formed, I was one of the original
Certified McClosky Voice Technicians. While I completed my
doctorate at Indiana University, I was not active with the
Institute, but beginning in 1993 I have taught courses and
workshops every summer.
What is “the McClosky technique”?
McClosky combined many elements of voice technique into a
unique and simple system of voice production. Postural
alignment and “abdominal” breathing are the
foundation of this approach. The second element is the
relaxation of muscle groups of the face and throat which
seem to hamper easy voice production. McClosky hypothesized
that muscle tension was an important component in most
voice problems, and developed six exercises to free the
face and throat of undue tension, promoting easy phonation.
These exercises are used to enhance sound production, both
in healthy singers and those with voice disorders.