Vanessa Tait-Jones obtained her BMus, HonsBMus as well as MMus degrees cum laude from Stellenbosch University majoring in voice under Magdalena Oosthuizen. In 2007 she participated as soloist in the 1st International Singing Symposium and was chosen as one of 8 soloists from around the country to have public master classes with Michelle Breedt. In August 2011, Vanessa was selected as overall winner of the ATKV Muziqanto competition. She performs regularly on the concert and oratorio stage. As a result of her research for her honours and master’s degrees, she is also involved on a part-time basis at an inter disciplinary voice clinic at Tygerberg Hospital, where she collaborates with an ear, nose and throat surgeon and a speech therapist to provide voice rehabilitation for singers with vocal problems. She is part-time singing lecturer at the Department of Music at the University Stellenbosch and also teacher from her own studio.

What is a voice rehabilitation facilitator?

VTJ: Rather singing voice rehabilitation facilitator. It is a singing teacher with knowledge and expertise of voice problems of the singing voice and who facilitates rehabilitative care to singers with a voice problem, in order to prevent recurrence of such problems.

Do you work alone, or are other professionals also involved in the process of voice rehabilitation?

VTJ: A singing teacher involved in rehabilitative care should work under supervision of an ear, nose and throat surgeon. A complete diagnosis is necessary before any treatment or voice rehabilitation can take place. In the weekly clinic where I am involved, a speech therapist is also present during the consultations. This insures a hands-on and holistic approach to treatment in the medical, speech and singing field.

How do you go about rehabilitating the voice on a practical level?

VTJ: Awareness of voice-use patterns and a vocal hygiene programme comes first. Then a detailed evaluation of voice-use (singing, speaking and other) follows during which problems can already be identified. The singing voice are then evaluated, habits identified that can contribute to a voice problem, and exercises given to improve optimum healthy voice production.

Is surgery ever involved?

VTJ: Yes, depending on the severity of the lesion found. The ENT surgeon who heads our clinic always follows the conventional rehabilitative care route first if possible, in order to avoid unnecessary surgery, but if this is not successful surgery is followed. Surgery is in most cases very successful, with little or no effect to the voice quality.

When should a singer consult a voice rehabilitation facilitator?

VTJ: When advised by an ENT surgeon. I readily give advice to singers with voice problems and queries, but cannot start rehabilitative care before a diagnoses of the voice problem is not available.

How has the fact that you are a singer yourself been an advantage to you in this work?

VTJ: Knowing the anatomy and physiology of the vocal mechanism is one thing, but physically feeling it work in your own body makes the understanding of the dysfunction of the system much more complete. Being a singer myself I also have full understanding of the psychological aspects of performing, and how a voice problem can have a serious effect on a professional singer’s career.

What is the most common problem that singers bring to you?

VTJ: Symptoms are mostly hoarseness, a voice that tires quickly and higher notes that are not reachable anymore. Vocal nodules and acid reflux are the most common voice problems that singers bring to the clinic.

Are most of the singers you consult opera singers, or do they also come from other genres?

VTJ: They come from all different types of genres, from opera, choir, pop and rock. During my masters degree research it was interesting to find that 73% of singers that came to the clinic during my 16 month research period were amateur untrained voices, often choir singers.

What are so-called “nodules” on the voice?

VTJ: It is a pair or callus-like lesions that form on the vibrating edges of both vocal chords. They form over a period of time, due to constant irritation to the chords, normally due to overuse of the voice e.g. regular shouting, loud talking and singing until voice gets hoarse and tired.

Can certain foods and what you drink have an influence on the voice?

VTJ: Certain foods and what you drink can dehydrate the vocal chords and cause acid reflux – when acid seeps up in the esophagus and cause swelling in and around the voice box, that will hamper clear voice production and cause hoarseness. Acid reflux occurs mostly at night, especially if there is still undigested food in the stomach that can cause high acid activity. Many singers don’t even realize they have acid reflux and it is then referred to as “silent reflux”. Signs are a deep and hoarse voice in the morning and a fowl taste in the mouth in the morning. Stay away from caffeine (coffee, Ceylon tea and chocolates), carbonates drinks, strong tomato-based and very spicy food and fatty meals (eg. a pie and coke is a big no-no!). Drink enough water, your urine should be pale – this hydrates and lubricates the vocal chords and helps reduce acid reflux.

There are many singers who smoke. What is your view on this?

VTJ: Smoking is dangerous to your health and to your voice. Everything you breathe in passes over your vocal chords. This dehydrates the chords and makes it much more susceptible to vocal damage. Most vocal lesions are benign, but the possibility of a vocal lesion to be cancerous is far greater when you smoke. This may result in surgery and can end a singer’s career. Singers should NOT smoke!

What threats do singing the wrong repertoire hold for the voice?

VTJ: Each voice is unique in its tone and colour and with good technique, which propagates healthy vocalization, different genres become possible for the singer to sing. It becomes a problem when an untrained voice pushes the voice above its comfortable limits and capability; this is a recipe for developing a voice problem. A singer should know the limits of their voice and should manage it accordingly. Singing lessons with a reputable singing teacher is always advisable.

What are the most important things that singers should look out for in terms of taking care of their voices?

VTJ: Singers should be informed about their voice (how their “instrument” works) and be aware of the possibilities of voice damage. Often they take their voice for granted and are not prepared to look after their vocal instrument, the same way they would look after an expensive musical instrument. The difference is the voice cannot be replaced.  If they are interested in a long career in singing they should learn how to manage their voices: this includes vocal hygiene, good voice and lifestyle habits, and good vocal technique. 

Interview by Christien Coetzee Klingler
Published 23.10.2012