Singing in Co-Harmony: An Intro to Trauma-Informed Voice Care with Megan Durham

From the individual experiences of physical and emotional abuse, to widespread stressors caused by social injustices and systemic oppression, it is increasingly apparent that the art of teaching includes navigating the trauma and chronic stress of students and teachers. Trauma-informed care originated in the healthcare profession for understanding the lived experiences of patients. “Trauma-informed care is not trauma-specific care; it does not propose to heal the trauma nor even to address it directly” (Purkey et al., 2018, p. 170), but instead it recognizes that the behaviors and decision-making of others might be influenced by trauma. Using the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s sixfold framework of cultural and gender equity, safety, transparency, peer support, choice, and collaboration, this workshop will weave discussion with somatic practice to explore trauma-informed voice care. TIVC aims to provide a collaborative, emergent scaffolding that prioritizes singers’ lived experience and cultivates greater compassion and connectivity within the voice studio, while maintaining high integrity in vocal artistry. 

About Megan

Megan Durham (she/her), serves on the voice faculty at the University of Louisville and works as a singing voice specialist. Incorporating trauma-informed care into her pedagogy, she is a facilitator of YogaVoice®, LifeForce Yoga®, Transcending Sexual Trauma Through Yoga, and Movement For Trauma (Jane Clapp). Megan serves on the board of directors for the Voice and Trauma Research and Connection Group, co-founded by Dr. Elisa Monti and Heleen Grooten. Megan holds a Master of Music degree in voice pedagogy and performance from Westminster Choir College of Rider University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the University of Richmond. She is a Recognized Vocologist with the Pan American Vocology Association and completed her certification in singing voice habilitation with Dr. Karen Wicklund at the Chicago Center for Professional Voice.