Interview with Singing Voice Specialist: Megan Durham

Megan Durham, M.M., is a voice professor at Moravian College and DeSales University. She is a classical mezzo- soprano singer, and she began her studies at the University of Richmond in Virginia where she earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Music with a concentration in voice. She then went to the Westminster Choir College, and earned a Masters of Music degree in Voice Performance and Pedagogy. Durham is also a singing voice specialist (Cert. SVS), and works with injured voice patients at the Bethlehem ENT. Durham is also a registered YogaVoice Teacher (RYT-200, CYVP).

Questions & Answers

1. What inspired you to go into the field of music, and singing therapy?

I don’t think it was any one particular thing, because music was always a part of my life, and music was always just a part of who I am. I grew up in a musical family, and while I was growing up, I was in church choir, band, and, of course, I was always singing. When I was an undergraduate student, I just felt that music was the path for me to pursue. I never honestly said to myself while growing up, “I want to be a voice teacher someday!” My talents and interests in music led me to becoming a voice teacher and a singing therapist. It was while I was in graduate school that I discovered that I love singing and that I would like to become a voice teacher. I was first introduced to voice science, voice pedagogy, and singing therapy for vocal injury patients while I was in graduate school, and the more that I learned about the voice, the more inspired I became to become a singing therapist and a voice teacher.

So, why did I want to become a voice teacher? I think it was just where all of my talents led me. I love one of these quotes by Frederick Buechner, and I am paraphrasing this, but he said that “Your calling is where your great joy, and the world’s great need intersect.” I honestly believe that I became a voice teacher because it brings me great joy and it helps me to utilize all of my talents to help others who are in need.

“God calls you to the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” ~ Frederick Beuchner

2. What inspired you to become a YogaVoice Teacher?

As a young singer, I struggled with a lot of issues with self- worth, and I never felt like I was good enough. I also struggled with a lot of vocal tension, but I never had any vocal fold injuries. I also felt like there was a lot that I wanted to express in my music, and through my singing, but physical and psychological issues were preventing me from fully communicating to the audience all that I had to offer. After graduate school, I took a lesson with a teacher who used yoga in his voice lessons. He asked me to sing a piece that I didn’t really care for, and after I finished singing it, of course, I felt horrible. Then, he asked me to sing the same piece again while sitting in a seated twist yoga posture. He asked me to inhale, and put my arms up as I twisted to the side, and sing. Afterwards, I thought to myself, “What is this? What is this miracle?” And, of course, I found out that it was yoga.

Yoga gives me a feeling of space. It helps me to release fear and tension. Yoga inspires me and my students still to this day because it’s not all about learning technique in order to make the voice work right. It’s not that we don’t know how to sing; we all know how to sing. Instead, technique can be about relaxation. Therefore, one should ask themselves, “what can I do in my body to release and find space, so that what’s inside of me just naturally exits?” One of my favorite quotes is from Plato, and he says that “Learning is remembering.” For me, yoga is about learning to remember that I already know how to create a beautiful sound, and how to sing. Yoga is about learning to create the necessary space, so that the sound can be expressed.

3. What research are you currently working on?

I am currently doing research on using simple yogic breathing techniques to calm ear, nose, and throat (ENT) patients who are experiencing a lot of anxiety about their ENT visit. I’m using it to specifically calm patients’ nerves before they have the stroboscopy test done because patients typically have a lot of anxiety about receiving negative news about their vocal health, and larynx (voice box) after the procedure. It is important that I calm a patient's nerves before their stroboscopy test so the doctors and I can get really good images of the voice to see what may or may not be impacting their ability to produce a healthy, beautiful sound.

4. What forms of yoga is YogaVoice based upon?

YogaVoice is a form of yoga that is specifically designed to help singers enhance their singing and breathing technique as well as combat performance anxiety. YogaVoice is primarily based upon Hatha Yoga, but it also incorporates various types of yoga. For instance, YogaVoice practices the eight-fold path which is from traditional ashtanga yoga. YogaVoice teachers also use a lot of chants during their practice, and the chants are derived from the Sanskrit language. YogaVoice also teaches the seven chakra system, and to try to experience the different sounds that are linked to each chakra in that specific part of the body.

5. What do you think is the most recent important development in your field of study?

I think that the most important recent development in the field of vocal health is the advancement of technology in phonological surgery. Surgeons are now able to use very tiny surgical instruments to remove obstructions on the vocal folds that leave behind very minimal scarring. Another recent development in the field of vocal health is working with transgender voice patients. Transgender voice patients need our support to help them find their identity through their voices, and to communicate that voice to others daily in a healthy way. I have a transgender client right now and I use yoga in his lessons to help him find not only his true identity, but his physical as well as vocal identity. The yoga postures also help him to identify and experience the production of sound throughout the entire body.

6. What is one thing that you notice that most voice students struggle with?

The number one thing that most voice students struggle with is confidence, self-esteem, and feeling like their voice isn't necessary. A lot of technical issues in singers typically stem from a fear to sing, and most technique issues can be corrected by simply releasing the fear that is holding them back from singing well. Shame and self- judgmentalness can also get in the way of being able to share one’s authenticity. Singers need to be constantly reminded that they have a gift that needs to be shared with the world, and that other people want to hear them sing.

7. What is the number one piece of advice that you would give to students who are studying voice?

The number one piece of advice that I give to all of my students is that singing is just an exhale with sound. If we remember that singing is just exhaling with sound, then we can create healthy vocal production, and share our authentic voice with others.

“Singing is just an exhale!”

8. What are some of the major benefits of yoga for singers, and for treating vocal injury patients?

Yoga can be used as a way to mitigate fear and tension in the body, so that the authentic voice can just emerge. Yoga helps to calm the waves of the mind, and find that stillness in the mind. It allows us to feel the space in the mind to be ourselves, and to share our own authenticity with others. Yoga helps to find the feeling of space inside and around the body, whether it be space inside the mouth and tongue, the space around you, or the space in the muscles. Yoga also helps with finding space in the music, such as taking the time to breathe before singing.

9. What do you know now that you wished you knew when you were in college?

That you’re enough! Always remember that before you perform or audition that you are enough, and that you don’t need to put on any act. Be yourself!

“You’re enough!”

10. What other instruments do you play?

I was a percussionist in high school, and I was in the marching band. I was also the drum major, and I wore an orange sequin, sparkly jacket for the marching band competitions.

11. What is your favorite musical and classical work?

My favorite musical is “Les Miserables.” I love the story of redemption, and I love the music. I’m not the biggest fan of opera, but my favorite major classical work is J.S. Bach’s “The St. Matthew’s Passion.”

12. What is your favorite piece of music to sing?

My favorite work to sing is “The Messiah.” I enjoy singing all of the alto solos in Handel’s “The Messiah” such as “He Shall See His Flock,” “O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings To Zion,” and “He Was Despised.”

Are you experiencing pain while singing? Loss of range? Trouble swallowing? A sudden raspy, breathy voice? Then you should contact Megan Durham by calling “(610-866-5555)” at Bethlehem ENT for a consultation in singing therapy sessions. Bethlehem ENT is located at 3445 High Point Blvd. #400, Bethlehem, PA 18017. For more information about all of the services that Megan Durham provides, check her out on the web at www.respirevocalwellness.com and at www.theyogavoice.com.

About the Author:

Violet Mandic, soprano, began studying voice with Christa Warda, a professor at Muhlenberg College soon after she graduated from high school. She began studying classical piano at the Tri- County Conservatory of Music. Violet continued her music education at Bucks County Community College where she earned her Associates Degree of Arts in Music. She became a part of the International Dean’s List Honor Society in 2012. She graduated from Bucks County Community College with an honors in summa cum laude. She transferred to Moravian College to continue studying music. At Moravian College, Violet became a part of the Delta Omicron Music Honors Fraternity in the spring of 2016. Violet won the Charlotte E. Newcombie Scholarship in the fall of 2015, and the Louise Moore Pine Music Scholarship in the fall of 2016. Violet graduated from Moravian College with a Bachelors of Music Degree in Voice Performance in the summer of 2017 with an honors in summa cum laude. Violet is currently working at Miss Cindy’s School of Dance as a voice and piano teacher. She also teaches voice and piano lessons in her private home studio. Violet writes her own articles on voice pedagogy, vocal health, and music. She belongs to the Palisades Community Choir, and the choir at her home church. She is currently working on earning a certification in yoga and music education.