![Sample our Arts journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110799/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Arts.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
This article is a report of the somatic practice, Bones for Life®, as both a therapeutic tool for self-healing and as a simple and readily accessible tool to increase students’ somatic awareness in the voice studio. The author’s experience with a congenital defect of the left temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and the access to relief that this somatic modality has afforded her, is articulated. Four of the ninety processes are explored—specifically focused on improved alignment and ease of movement in the upper shoulder area—as presented in Workshop format at the 2021 Virtually PAVA Symposium. Finally, some thoughts on why these processes work to create changes in vocalization are offered.
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to Erin Finkelstein (https://erinfinkelstein.com/), Heidi Moss Erickson (https://www.heidimosserickson.com/), Robert Sussuma (https://thesingingself.com/), Babette Lightner (https://www.wim.life/), and Walt Fritz (https://waltfritzseminars.com/) for guiding me to many of the resources cited here and especially for how their work and forming language help me to articulate these principles of body integrity and wholeness.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Supplementary material
Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.
Notes
1. For a discussion of the conference, see Glasheen and Sortore (Citation2018).
2. See the “Pedagogy Resources” in the online supplementary materials for a list of resources.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Rachel Velarde
Rachel Velarde, DMA, is a voice teacher and vocologist. She holds two Master of Music degrees (voice performance, voice pedagogy) and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in vocal performance from Arizona State University. She is a 2021 graduate of the National Center for Speech and Voice Summer Vocology program and received her Bones for Life Teacher certification in October 2021. She is the current membership director for the Pan American Vocology Association (PAVA) and has been a member of VASTA since 2018. She is currently Professor of Music, Voice, at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ, and has a private studio, Velarde Voice.