The Owner's Manual to the Voice ─ A Guide for Singers and Other Professional Voice Users

Singers must equip themselves with enough knowledge to clearly convey specific sensations and difficulties with their instrument. Understanding of potential dangers and disorders, familiarity with a variety of medical procedures, and comprehension in various facets of diagnosis and treatments empower singers to "own," just like other musicians, their instrument. The Owner's Manual to the Voice provides singers with the knowledge necessary to communicate effectively and in intelligent terms about their instrument, especially when conversing with medical professionals. Beginning with an overview of the vocal anatomy, lead author Rachael Gates, and co-authors L. Arick Forrest, M.D. and Kerri Obert, M.A., C.C.C/S.L.P, proceed through detailed discussions of caring for the voice and common causes of vocal changes and problems before guiding the reader through the process of choosing, talking to, and working with an ENT. In so doing, they give insights that any professional voice user - whether singer, actor, broadcaster, politician, teacher, preacher, or lawyer - will find helpful if not essential.

Soprano, Opera Director and Singing Health Specialist, Dr. Rachael Gates, DMA, has sung in Germany, Italy, Russia and many of the United States. Dr. Gates was Assistant Opera Director at Northwestern University and Director of Midwest Young Artist's Opera and Music Theater Program in Chicago, IL for three years. She has taught Acting at The Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford, and guest directed operas for Yale University. She teaches vocal health to broadcasters, singers and SLP student clinicians at Michigan State University where she is a member of the MSU Musician's Wellness Team. She studied at Carnegie Mellon University, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and The Ohio State University where she received her Doctorate of Music.

L. Arick Forrest is Vice Chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology, Residency Program Director, and serves as the Director of The Ohio State University Voice and Swallowing Disorders Clinic. He has been involved in treating the professional voice since completing his Laryngology fellowship at Vanderbilt University under Robert H. Ossoff DMD MD in 1993.

Kerrie Beechler Obert, MA-CCC/SLP, is a clinical voice pathologist at The Ohio State University JamesCare Voice and Swallowing Disorders Clinic in Columbus, Ohio. She is also actively involved in several on-going research projects with a team of nationally recognized experts in the field of voice pathology. Ms. Obert holds degrees in speech pathology and music and she has extensive performance training in a variety of styles and techniques.