Trauma and the Voice
By Dr. Emily Jaworski Koriath
In the present era, statistics for emotional trauma are astonishing: over half of American seventeen-year-olds have experienced or witnessed it firsthand, and the next person you meet is more likely to carry nervous system trauma than to be left-handed. This carries over into the applied music studio where the world of emotions and feelings undoubtedly play a crucial role.
About Trauma and the Voice
An indispensable resource for the modern voice teacher, Trauma and the Voice: A Guide for Singers, Teachers, and Other Practitioners explores the body’s response to trauma and practical ways that singing teachers can adapt the principles of trauma-informed care while maintaining ethical boundaries. Emily Jaworski Koriath gathers perspectives and research from across the fields of psychology, speech pathology, and vocal music education, and contributions investigate a myriad of concepts including the physiology of trauma, the impact of trauma on learning, polyvagal theory, human attachment theory, and other relevant psychological concepts. The book provides not only the scientific underpinnings but also numerous tools and practical applications for daily studio interactions.
Praise for Trauma and the Voice
★★★★★
“I consider this book a milestone, certainly a precious and fundamental contribution to this new area of study that is Voice and Trauma. It fills a gap that needed to be filled so that pedagogy and vocal therapy can be more aware of a person's most integral expression, the voice and their singing.”
- Nani Barbosa, music therapist
'Voice and Trauma has become my bible for trauma informed voice care, ever since its publication. Reading this baby was such a relief for me, because it gave words to things that I had been feeling inside for a long time! After I had previously discovered nervous system work in my own healing journey, I knew my singing and vocal coaching would never be the same again. This book gave me the courage and ideas how to put that into practice. And it gave me a feeling of connection, knowing that there are colleagues out there, trying to do the same."
- Franka van Essen, Voice2Blossom, Vocal Life Coaching
Trauma and the Voice is both a pioneering and essential resource.
- Brian Manternach, DMA, Classical Singer Magazine, May 2024
“A must-have resource for every voice teacher and singing artist! With exceptional clarity, directness, and compassion, Emily introduces readers to the fundamentals of trauma, lays out an ethical scope of practice for teachers, and offers numerous practical tools to bring into the voice studio, practice room, and larger world. Much more than just an informational text, this book calls its readers to reflect on and embody the very practices they seek to employ with others. Trauma and the Voice is both a guide and a call to action”
- Susan Davies, Independent Voice Studio Owner