Daughter needs a health-savvy voice teacher with whom to consult in Boston

College Majors Music Major
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<p>Here's the background: My D was a serious classical soprano throughout HS, with hopes of an opera career. She won a couple of state titles, was selected for the Governor's Honors Program in Voice, and got very positive feedback from faculty for whom she sang during college visits at NWern and Michigan. She wound up getting into Harvard and chose to go there while working on the side with a vocal performance professor at a local conservatory.</p>

<p>During HS, she had off-and-on vocal inconsistencies for which doctors and speech therapists at various voice clinics prescribed extensive exercises. The problems grew progressively worse in college - so much so that she had to stop singing this year. In mid-December, a top otolaryngologist found that swollen lesions on both sides of the vocal opening were the only parts of the larynx closing, leaving an hourglass-shaped opening above and below them. Surgery was ruled out, but she turned out to be a good candidate for a new procedure in which a laser is used not to make an incision, but at a longer distance to cauterize the blood vessels leading to and serving the swollen areas. By interrupting the blood supply necessary for the lesions' growth and survival, the procedure should shrink them and provide some significant degree of improvement. D had the laser treatment done a couple weeks ago and won't know how successful it's been for another four to six weeks.</p>

<p>She will head back to college in a week, and will be consulting with a speech pathologist about her recovery. But she would like to begin a relationship with a voice teacher in the Boston area who understands vocal health as well as vocal performance in order to receive feedback on her prospects for continuing to seriously pursue classical voice. She'd also like to use the teacher's expertise to make decisions about how much and what type of singing she might do in the future if a rigorous voice curriculum is not realistic.</p>

<p>Does anyone have recommendations on who she might want to contact? Either postings or PMs are welcome.</p>

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<p>gadad, you might want to pm lorelei2702. Good luck to you and d.</p>

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<p>What kind of transportation is available to her?</p>

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<p>She can get around town on the T from her campus; I know you can catch buses and commuter trains from the T, but I don't know how easy it might be.</p>

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<p>I know a classic voice teacher who might be a good fit ... I'm not sure how to let you get ahold of me ... I'll try updating my account to allow PMs.</p>

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<p>gadad, I sent you a private message with some recommendations from my friend who studies and performs in the Boston area. Good luck to your daughter.</p>

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<p>gadad,</p>

<p>The Longy School of Music is right next to Harvard. Karyl Ryczek (chair of the voice department) or Jane Struss would be great people to talk to.</p>

<p>Good luck,
Bostontenor</p>

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<p>I am sending you a PM with a recommendation.... Good Luck to your D!</p>