Dear ones: This class is postponed.
Please scroll all the way down to sign up for newsletter updates at voicebodyconnection.com and we will let you know when it will be rescheduled. Thanks for your understanding!
THE HEALTHY SPEAKING AND TENSION RELEASE INTENSIVE
Six weeks to identify your personal vocal tension habits so that you can release them and speak with ease
What we'll cover in this intensive...
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What breath support really is…. And what it isn’t. (Hint: It’s not just “breathing with your diaphragm.”)
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Which muscles may be blocking the flow of your voice as it comes up and out.
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Why your voice gets hoarse and raspy, and what to do to alleviate vocal fatigue.
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How to quickly correct your effort when you start feeling like you're straining your voice.
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How to improve your voice quality so it sounds as resonant and full as you want it to.
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What you can do to reset your nervous system so you can speak with a powerful and confident voice anytime.
The Healthy Speaking and Tension Release Intensive is taught by Elissa Maas Weinzimmer, founder of Voice Body Connection.
I’ve dealt with vocal tension issues (muscle tension dysphonia) since 2007 when I experienced a sudden voice loss episode.
Since that time, I've done an enormous amount of research and ongoing practice to manage my vocal stamina. Quickly I realized it was my mission to help people understand how their voice works so you can use it better and communicate with ease. I've been teaching vocal health and presence skills for twelve years, and in this work we'll draw upon theatre voice techniques, singing pedagogy (useful even if you're not a singer!), speech science, somatics, and trauma-informed practices.
Intensive Curriculum
| Session | Date, Time, and Details |
|---|---|
| ✪ INTRO |
Wednesday June 7th, 12-1:30pm Eastern time > FREE INTRO SESSION Curious to learn more about what we're going to cover in class? This free intro session is open to all who have questions and want to learn about releasing vocal tension and having a healthy speaking voice. |
| ✪ CLASS 1 |
Wednesday June 14th, 12-1:30pm Eastern time > Breath support practices We'll go over the anatomy of the torso to understand how freedom of movement and specificity of effort can support the production of sound |
| ✪ CLASS 2 |
Wednesday June 21st, 12-1:30pm Eastern time > Tension release practices We'll cover anatomy of muscle in the chest, shoulders, neck, and skull that are likely culprits for your vocal fatigue, and learn practices to release habitual tension |
| ✪ LAB |
Friday June 23rd, 12-1:30pm Eastern Time > Spotlight coaching on breathing and tension patterns Share your questions and challenges around breath and muscle tension for direct feedback from Elissa |
| ✪ CLASS 3 |
Wednesday June 28th, 12-1:30pm Eastern time > Healthy speaking practices: Triage when things go wrong In today's class we'll cover adjustments you can make in the moment when you become aware that your vocal tension patterns are inhibiting free and healthy speaking |
| ✪ LAB |
Friday June 30th, 12-1:30pm Eastern > Spotlight coaching on healthy speaking Share your questions and challenges around healthy speaking for direct feedback from Elissa |
| ✪ CLASS 4 |
Wednesday July 5th, 12-1:30pm Eastern > Healthy speaking practices: Preventing issues In this class we'll talk about the ongoing lifestyle changes you can make and practices you can develop to support healthy speaking habits |
| ✪ CLASS 5 |
Wednesday July 12th, 12-1:30pm Eastern > Improving resonance, tone, and articulation A huge part of having a healthy speaking voice is understanding how resonance and articulation work. Pay extra close attention today if you're curious about how to change the sound of your voice or enunciate more clearly... without over-efforting. |
| ✪ LAB |
Friday July 14th, 12-1:30pm Eastern > Q&A and spotlight coaching on vocal concerns Today is the opportunity to ask Elissa any of your remaining voice questions (if you can't make it to class live, you can submit a question to be answered) |
| ✪ CLASS 6 |
Wednesday July 19th, 12-1:30pm Eastern >Nervous system reset: power and confidence anytime In our final session we'll cover some information about how your nervous system works so that you can still access all the helpful things you've learned even when you're on the spot or feeling extra stressed. |
The investment for the six week intensive is one payment of $599, or four monthly payments of $159.
BIPOC, artist, and economic scale discounts available.
FAQs
All classes will be recorded! It's ideal to attend the online sessions live if and when you can. But we know that it works best for many students to participate in class asynchronously. The course is designed to give you just as much value whether you are live in class, or watching the recording later. All class sessions will be uploaded to the course portal within 24 hours of the session, and you can also submit questions in the course portal to be answered in class.
Yes! We will never take the course materials away from you (unless the internet breaks, but that won't be on us! 😅). Class recordings will remain available in your Voice Body Connection library.
The content of this course is similar! However, we will covering things in a more succinct and condensed way. In Release Your Voice, we go over every individual area of likely vocal tension in great depth. This intensive will cover vocal tension patterns in a broader fashion to help address healthy speaking habits.
Existing Release Your Voice students are being invited to participate in this intensive for no extra charge. So if you want the most support for your vocal health - and the most bang for your buck - enroll in Release Your Voice before June 13th, and you'll get to participate in the intensive, get access to the complete independent study coursework of Release Your Voice, and get to join a future live round of Release Your Voice for no extra charge. Send an email [email protected] if you have any questions about enrolling in Release Your Voice & the intensive at the same time.
Yes. Full tuition for the intensive is $599 (pay in full) or four monthly payments of $159.
If you are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color) please use the coupon code BIPOC to receive 30% off your tuition.
If you are an artist and need financial support to make this program accessible, we offer a 25% discount for creatives. To qualify, please email [email protected] with the following information: Your name, where you reside, and a short (1-2 paragraph) statement about your creative practice and how you believe that this course will benefit you and your artistic development.
If you live in a so-called developing country and would like to join the course, we offer economic scale discounts that bring tuition to 4 payments of $29/month. To qualify, please email [email protected] with the following information: Your name, the country in which you reside, and a short (1-2 paragraph) statement about why you'd like to take this course and how you believe it will benefit you.
Important Disclaimer:
Please keep in mind that this course is being offered by a voice coach, not a clinician. This class is not meant to replace clinical treatment, nor is Elissa qualified to diagnose or advise on medical conditions. The course is offered for educational purposes only, and to share tools and techniques that may help you release vocal tension. There is no guarantee of results.
If you are concerned about whether you should participate in this course, you must consult your doctor.