AAMT 2024 Fall Virtual Workshop #3

Vocal Health for Music Therapists

Description:

Come join me for an engaging and informative workshop designed specifically for music therapists to enhance their vocal health and performance. "Vocal Health for Music Therapists" will cover the essential functions of the singing voice, providing a foundational understanding of how it works and how to care for it effectively. In this interactive session, we'll debunk common vocal myths and clarify misconceptions about voice use and maintenance. Participants will gain practical knowledge and tools to keep their voices in optimal condition. The workshop will include a range of hands-on experiences, such as vocal exercises to strengthen and warm up the voice, and stretches and massages to relieve tension. These activities are tailored to help music therapists maintain vocal health while managing the demands of their professional practice. By the end of the workshop, attendees will have a comprehensive toolkit for sustaining their vocal wellness and enhancing their work with clients.

Biography:

Laura Berg Seipert, MT-BC is a Utah State University Alumna, where she received her Bachelor’s in Music Therapy. She was a music therapy intern at the University Hospitals in Cleveland, OH and worked closely with the Oncology Outpatient Unit. Laura’s career then took her to Naples, Florida where she worked as a music therapist for Avow Hospice for four years. In 2020, Laura started The Mindful Voice Teacher – an online and in-person music studio which provides therapy-centered voice and guitar lessons to individuals hoping to build more confidence and self-esteem and learn sustainable coping strategies for mental health struggles. This quickly expanded into also providing resources and education that help music educators more confidently address mental health struggles that come up in lessons with students. As part of this mission, Laura hosts “The Mindful Voice Teacher Podcast.” Laura became certified as a voice teacher in the Your True Voice program under the tutelage of Debra Bonner, and now teaches other music therapists vocal health and technique through online group and one-on-one lessons. Laura also enjoys contracting with Mundi Project, a non-profit organization that provides music education, to provide an intergenerational music therapy group at Neighborhood House in Salt Lake City, UT.

Laura loves using her extensive background in the voice and music therapy to inspire change, growth, and healing in the lives of the people she comes in contact with.