That music in itself, whose sounds are song,
The poetry of speech.
~Lord Byron

The National Center for Creative Aging pointed me to a fascinating article about “Singing Seniors Finding Their Voices,” by Carolyn Y. Johnson for the Boston Globe.

In normal aging our voices can change. Joseph Stemple, professor of communication sciences and disorders at the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences, said, “aging muscles weaken and vocal cords no longer close completely – creating an airiness or breathiness in speech. Each syllable takes a greater portion of breath.”

Ironically, the pops and squeaks and lack of control seem to mirror the opposite end of life when a boy’s voice changes as he enters manhood. The results can be excruciatingly embarrassing. This is not a great problem when seniors are with family and friends but can be a daunting one when interviewing for the job of your dreams. The unpredictability can make a serious dent in your confidence.

The good news is that,  just as you can build up your biceps, you can strengthen your vocal chords. Elizabeth Anker teaches singing to seniors in a class in Boston. The program is a collaboration between Longy School of Music and the United South End Settlements.  Anker’s class focuses on ensemble singing and harmony, but also on techniques that can strengthen voices that are naturally changing with age. The class is free, supported by a grant from the MetLife Foundation Creative Aging Program.

Read the article, watch the embedded video of the “Singing Seniors,” and listen as 63 year-old student, Dory Tobias, describes how “It lightens your soul!”

The poetry of speech…

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