Spark! Vocal Health Education
Be part of the change in helping people to speak and sing efficiently, effectively and enjoyably with this special one-day session for vocalists, vocal leaders and community vocal practitioners.
This session will cover:
- How Your Voice Works – An introduction to the basics, including key anatomical structures and how the voice functions for both speaking and singing.
- Voice Changes Across the Lifespan – Understanding how the voice evolves through different life stages, from puberty to mid-life, menopause, and beyond. Learn how to set realistic, age-appropriate expectations for vocal performance.
- Essential Voice Care – Practical exercises and strategies for warm-ups, cool-downs, and breath work. This hands-on segment provides key takeaways for personal practice and facilitating vocal health in others.
- The Biopsychosocial Model – Exploring the interconnected nature of vocal health and the importance of a multidisciplinary, holistic approach to care.
- Movement & the Voice – Understanding why movement is essential for vocal health, with interactive exercises demonstrating how to integrate movement into vocal practice.
- Recognizing Red Flags & Making Referrals – How to identify potential vocal health concerns, refer appropriately, and provide support without increasing anxiety. Learn why early intervention is crucial.
- Q&A & Myth-Busting – A chance to ask questions and challenge common misconceptions about vocal health, including myths around foods, drinks, lozenges, steaming, and other voice care practices.
Your workshop leaders are Eimear McCarthy Luddy and Gillian Ramm
Eimear McCarthey Luddy
Gillian Ramm
Eimear is the course manager and assessor for VHE’s flagship “Vocal Health First Aid” qualification, an externally accredited online course that has successfully trained thousands of voice practitioners in vocal health awareness since its inception in 2020.
Eimear is a singing teacher with a keen interest in vocal health, vocal anatomy, and singing voice rehabilitation. She was the first Irish person to complete advanced training in voice science (also called vocology) at the National Centre for Voice and Speech in Salt Lake City and remains committed to expanding her training by completing regular CPD courses. She qualified from the Royal Irish Academy of Music with a Masters in Music Performance where she also conducted research investigating attitudes and practices toward vocal health in Ireland.
As a singing teacher she maintains a busy practice from young students to professional singers. Eimear founded Vocology Ireland with the goal of bringing an approachable voice science and vocal health resource to Irish shores. As part of this goal she presents voice science and vocal health education workshops for singers and singing teachers. She is particularly passionate about creating vocal anatomy resources and in 2024 she published the #AnatoMonday ‘Vocal Anatomy Colouring Book’. She is currently a Vocal Health First Aid Assessor and an assessor on the Fundamental Anatomy (Level 4) course with Vocal Health Education.
Gillian is currently the Operations Director at Vocal Health Education and a mentor to students on their Vocal Habiliation Professional course. She is also a qualified Singing Voice Rehabilitation Specialist, alongside her work as a singing teacher in private practice.
Australia born, she completed her BMus (Classical Singing) at WAAPA in Perth and went on to complete a Post-Graduate Diploma in Opera Studies at the RNCM in Manchester. Her solo singing career saw her take major roles with companies such as Glyndebourne Festival (Fiordiligi), Salzburg Landestheater (Fiordiligi), First Niece Peter Grimes (ENO, Opera de Oviedo), Donna Anna Don Giovanni, Vitellia La Clemenza di Tito and Tytania A Midsummer Night’s Dream (ETO) and Aci, Aci, Galatea e Polifemo for London Handel Festival and Goettingen International Handel Festival. She appears regularly as an oratorio and concert soloist alongside pursuing her passion for teaching, vocal health awareness and workshops for voice users of all ages and stages.