Presentation: Utilizing vocal rehabilitation techniques in a fun and positive small group environment to enhance vocal rehabilitation and general well-being in persons with total laryngectomy.
The impact of losing the voice can be devasting to a person’s identity, mental health, family and work life with many reporting a need to overcome depression and social isolation (Moors, 2020 et al, Pivovarchuk, 2023). ENT Dr. Thomas Moors “became particularly intrigued by voice problems after laryngectomy and the difficulty these patients face in their emotional expression” (Moors, 2016 para 3) and wondered, if singing techniques make a difference? As the use of music can improve general health and reduce anxiety and depression (Bradt , 2011), and inspired by the work of Dr. Moors, a pilot laryngectomy choir was set up in Cork, Ireland. With the help of Speech and Language Therapists, a small group came together once a week for 8 weeks and worked on articulation, phonation, beat-boxing techniques, breathing, small pitch glides, and confidence building, all while having a fun. The series ended with a performance at a Head and Neck Cancer Information morning where the participants performed a song they chose themselves, alongside four BA in Popular Music singers, a guitarist and bass player. The positive experiences of the participants as well as the impact of the first performance has inspired more members to join the group and the choir will be developed with a larger sample in January 2025 to investigate how much of an impact singing techniques can have on speech intelligibility, phonation time, pitch range and general well-being.
Trish Rooney, DME
Doctor of Music Education, Trish is a lecturer on the MTU Cork School of Music MA and BA in Popular Music in voice, vocal pedagogy, vocal ensemble, popular music history, and research as well as being a course co-ordinator of the MA. Trish is an advanced CoreSinging™ Teacher, Vocal Habilitation Professional, and is currently training to become a Vocal Rehabilitation Specialist with Vocal Health Education, London.
Trish has a Certificate of Teaching Inclusively and is a published author on the topic of music education with a chapter in the vocal pedagogy book CoreSinging: A Joyful Approach to Singing and Voice Pedagogy. Trish on the editorial board of the International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research (IJLTER), a reviewer for the British Journal of Music Education (BJME) and International Association for the Study of Popular Music (IASPM) and regularly presents her work at International conferences (some listed below).
Dr. Rooney has worked extensively in the music industry, and was the dedicated vocal coach for RTE’s The Voice of Ireland.
She has toured and performed with acts such as Una Healy, Cliona Hagan and Derek Ryan, appearing on TV shows such as the Irish Post Music Awards, The Late Late Show and RTE Christmas Specials. Trish has also collaborated as a vocal coach with Irish brands such as AIB and Virgin Media. Her students have performed on The Voice of Ireland, The Voice UK, The Late Late Show and for president M.D Higgins.
With a first class honours degree and Master’s degree in flute performance she has also been a member of and performed with many ensembles down through the years including the Cork Youth Orchestra, Cork School of Music Symphony Orchestra, Cork Pops Orchestra, Cork Chamber Orchestra, CSM Wind Ensemble and Vocal Chamber group, and the International Youth Wind Orchestra.
She also holds the following performance diplomas: LLCM (flute), DipLCM (voice), ALCM (voice), ATCL (Saxophone), LRSL (voice) and FLCM (voice).
Financial Disclosure: Dr. Rooney has no financial relationships to disclose.
Non-Financial Disclosure: Dr. Rooney has no non-financial relationships to disclose.