Voice Center Outreach | Department of Otolaryngology

The Voice Center Reaches Out…To You!

The University of Pittsburgh Voice Center provides custom-designed educational Vocal Health Seminars. Members of the Voice Center team have provided an average of 15 outreach presentations each year. These seminars are free of charge to professional organizations, corporate businesses, universities, high schools, choral groups, theatre groups, and educators.

For a recent customized outreach, please see West Side Story Suites.

Vocal Health Seminars are:

Presented on location
Tailored to best suit the needs of the audience
Provided by an experienced Speech Language Pathologist and/or Laryngologist
Completed with a designated time for questions and answers
Focused on
- Anatomy and physiology of voice production
- Common vocal pathologies
- Essential vocal wellness guidelines
- Healthy speaking and singing voice

The University of Pittsburgh Voice Center provides FREE Vocal Health Seminars for:

Teachers
Worship Leaders
Choral Groups
Theater Groups
Professional Organizations

To learn more and schedule a presentation, contact Rita Hersan, MS, CCC-SLP, at hersrg@upmc.edu or call 412-232-SING (7464).

We have presented Vocal Health Seminars to:

Bach Choir, Children’s Festival Chorus of Pittsburgh, Junior Mendelssohn, Mendelssohn Choir, Pittsburgh Concert Chorale, Pittsburgh Opera Apprentices, Pittsburgh Opera Company, Renaissance City Choir, St. Paul Cathedral Choir
Act One Theater School, CAPA, Center for Young Musicians, Lincoln Park Performing Arts High School, Stage Right
California University of Pennsylvania, Clarion University, Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, Carnegie Mellon School of Music, Duquesne University, Grove City College, Point Park University, Seton Hill University, Slippery Rock University, West Liberty State University, West Virginia University, Westminster College
Allegheny Center Alliance Church, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Faith Builders, Mt. Ararat Baptist Church, New Life Church of God, Northmont Church, Pittsburgh Area Worship Leaders, St. Thomas More Parish
Beaver County Arts Education Consortium, Pennsylvania Music Education Association, UPMC Call Center, Western Pennsylvania District Chorus Festival
Armstrong School District, Beaver Falls High School, Chartiers Valley High School, Hempfield Area School District, Moon Area Middle School, North Allegheny School District, North Hills School District, Mt. Lebanon High School, Quaker Valley High School, Shaler Area School District, Upper St. Clair High School, West Allegheny School District

Reviews

"The students at North Hills High School greatly appreciated Dr. Smith taking the time to share her knowledge and experience with us on March 16, 2016. Dr. Smith reinforced much of what we discuss in our choir classes about vocal production and health, so for me, it was good for the students to hear some of the same things from someone who is considered an expert. The preventative health tips were particularly appropriate for us as we are just about to open our spring musical and will perform the show 8 times in 2 weeks. Several students had some specific questions about their particular issues, and we also had a few students from our Academy of Medicine who were interested in physiology as well. The visit allowed us to bring our choir students together along with members of the Academies of Arts & Communications and Medicine in a cross-curricular event. Thank you again for taking the time to broaden the minds of our young performers at North Hills! "

Shaun Cloonan
Choirs & Music Theory
North Hills High School

Jackie Gartner-Schmidt, PhD, CCC-SLP, gave a Vocal Outreach presentation to approximately 150 students and teachers of singing at Point Park University in January 2018.

“I just wanted to thank you [Jackie] for coming to speak with our students yesterday. What an informative and valuable presentation for them to experience, and your dynamic personality really engaged them in a powerful way! They are all buzzing about it today! This was the perfect way to set up the new semester! Thank you!”

Tim Marquette
Visiting Associate Professor and Coordinator of Private Voice, Point Park University

“Thank you to Jackie Gartner-Schmidt for the wonderful, informative and interactive vocal health seminar. It was a great opportunity for our students and faculty alike. Many thanks! "

Janet Madelle Feindel, MFA,
School of Drama
Carnegie Mellon University

“Tracey, your presentation was very professional, yet very relaxed, in a positive way. The students to whom you spoke felt very comfortable in asking questions and I personally learned a lot with your presentation.”

Henry Alviani
Clarion University

“Rita’s presentation was very informative and particularly well developed and suited for the audience gathered. She presented the information in an accessible way to the average church choir member who has little anatomical and physiological knowledge while still being technical enough to captivate the attention of those within the medical field. I have referenced the information she provided multiple times while rehearsing with my choir since the workshop.”

Nathan Bellas
Director of Music Ministry and Organist
St. Thomas More Parish

“Dr. Libby Smith, Thank you for coming! We really enjoyed your presentation and it contained very valuable information that we can put to use. Prayerfully we can work together again. Thank you so much.”

Veronica Todd
Mt. Ararat Baptist Church

“Thank you Dr. Rosen so much for presenting! So many people came up to me and said how much they appreciated the Vocal Health session! You will be invited again.”

Presented at Pennsylvania Music Educators Association
Wendy Jo Nagy
Secondary Choral Director

“Dr. Young gave an outstanding presentation. Her demeanor was perfect for the room and the students and faculty just loved her presentation. The overriding comment from all was that she could have spent another whole hour and we would have been totally engaged. It was great and Dr. Young's presentation was enthusiastically well-received. Thanks so much for this free outreach that you sponsor - we would never have been able to afford to bring in someone of such high quality as Dr. Young. I plan to fully take all advantages of this free program opportunity - please think of us and keep us in your email database for future plans and presentations.”

Dr. Linda Cowan
West Liberty University

“I have to tell you how happy we were with Dr. Gartner-Schmidt's presentation. I've gotten quite a bit of positive feedback from those in attendance and there is a strong desire to have her back again!”

Nathan Hart
Renaissance Choir

“I really appreciated the personable style Dr. Libby Smith displayed during the thorough lecture on vocal injury and vocal health. Her presentation was right on target with the needs of our students. These are future vocal music educators, and they will be responsible for the care of thousands of voices over the next several decades. Because of her help, I'm certain they'll do an effective job of "spreading the gospel" of good vocal health to folks who will need to hear it. Thank you so much for this excellent experience.”

Craig G. Cannon
Director of Choral Organizations
Mary Pappert School of Music Duquesne University

“The students raved about the value of your presentation”

Annonymous

“Your presentation was right on target with the needs of students who are preparing to be teachers as well as those who will lead choirs in the future”

Annonymous

“The information was presented in an accessible way to the average church choir member who has little anatomical and physiological knowledge while still being technical enough to captivate the attention of those within the medical field” “Wonderful, Informative and Interactive vocal health seminar”

Annonymous

“The students raved about the value of your presentation.”

“Wonderful, Informative, and Interactive vocal health seminar.”

“Thank you to Jackie Gartner-Schmidt for the wonderful, informative, and interactive vocal health seminar. It was a great opportunity for our students and faculty alike.” Many thanks!

“Thank you so much, Dr. Rosen, for presenting! So many people came up to me and said how much they appreciated the Vocal Health session! You will be invited again.”

“Dr. Young gave an outstanding presentation. Her demeanor was perfect for the room and the students and faculty just loved her presentation. The overriding comment from all was that she could have spent another whole hour, and we would have been totally engaged. It was great, and Dr. Young's presentation was enthusiastically well-received. Thanks so much for this free outreach that you sponsor - we would never have been able to afford to bring in someone of such high quality as Dr. Young. I plan to fully take all advantages of this free program opportunity - please think of us and keep us in your email database for future plans and presentations.”

"I wanted to write and express my gratitude to Dr. Hersan, Dr. Gartner-Schmidt and anyone else who had a hand in bringing the Vocal Health Presentation to our freshmen choir members during our choir camp at CalU. Not only was it informative and germane to their singing habits, but delivered in a manner that was accessible and relevant to our students’ perspective and often spoken in their vernacular. The hour-long presentation could have easily gone another half hour with the questions that the presentation generated. Bravi Tutti UPMC Voice Center!"