British Association for Performing Arts Medicine NewsBlog » Technique

One Day Singing Workshops in London

BAPAM — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:08:20 +0000

These one day performance workshops for singers at both good amateur and professional level, who wish to improve their existing vocal and performance skills, provide a stimulating and creative environment in which to explore solo and group work. Highly Recommended!

Ian MacDonald is a singer and specialist voice coach for BAPAM.

VoiceSkills; an Ian MacDonald and Sef Hill collaboration.

See website for full details and how to book: www.voiceskills.org.uk

The Classical Voice

The Lady Chapel, St Peter’s Church, Kennington Lane SE11 5HY – 0790 4691850

10am – 5pm, Saturday, 18^th September 2010 – Booking NOW!

10am – 5pm, Saturday, 15^th January 2011

10am – 5pm, Saturday, 16^th April 2011

The Musical Theatre Voice

The Concert Artistes’ Association, 20 Bedford Street, London WC2E 9HP – 0790 469 1850

10am – 5pm, Sunday, 10^th October 2010 – Booking NOW!

10am – 5pm, Sunday, 23^rd January 2011

10am – 5pm, Sunday, 10^th April 2011

Ten Top Health Tips for Musicians

BAPAM — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:44:48 +0000

Want to know how to help keep yourself healthy whether studying, rehearsing for a gig, or performing?

These tips are taken from the BAPAM factsheet, Don’t cramp your style – Warm-up exercises for performers, also available as an A2 poster or pocket-sized concertina version. To order printed versions have a look at our Health Resources page, where you’ll also find a lot more useful information for all performing artists. All our factsheets are produced with financial support from the Musicians Benevolent Fund.

Ten Top Health Tips for Musicians:

1. Don’t suddenly increase the time you spend rehearsing or studying (maximum 10-minute increase per day). You should increase by ten minutes each day for three days and keep at this level for the rest of the week.

2. Leave more difficult passages and pieces for towards the middle of your practice session, when your muscles are ready and not yet tired out. Increase the speed, difficulty and intensity of the pieces you are playing as you progress though the session.

3. Don’t become obsessed with repeating a passage or gesture that you can’t quite get right. Look for alternatives.

4. Take a five-minute break every half-hour.

5. If your muscles feel overloaded, do some stretching.

6. Do as much as you can to optimise your working environment: think about lighting, noise levels, temperature. Make sure your daily routine – eating, sleeping, exercise – works for you.

7. Don’t play at the time of day when you’re most tired.

8. NEVER play if you are experiencing pain. If you feel any pain, stop playing and do some gentle stretching. If such pain does not go away or if it reappears in subsequent sessions, see a specialist in Performing Arts Medicine.

9. Do exercises to stretch your muscles before playing and whenever you feel like or need it.

10. Make sure you find time for warming up and stretching. You know you will enjoy it and it will make you feel great!

Speech and Language Therapy at BAPAM

BAPAM — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:04:19 +0000

Full and part time professional and student performing artists who have been referred to a Speech and Language therapist can now see Mei Lei at BAPAM in London. Mei specialises in voice disorders and has worked in Voice Clinics for the last 7 years with ENT Consultants, John Rubin and Tom Harris. We are able to arrange appointments for the reduced cost of £45 and we are grateful to Mei for discounting her usual fee so generously.

If you’d like more information or to book an appointment please call us on 020 7404 8444.

BAPAM May 8th Edinburgh Training Day Programme

BAPAM — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 12:54:32 +0000

Click here for the BAPAM Edinburgh Training Day programme

The Show Must Go On

Doctors and Therapists get ready for the Edinburgh Festival 2010

The British Association of Performing Arts Medicine Invites ENT and Musculoskeletal Doctors and Therapists to a training event with a difference.

BAPAM provides performing artists with information on health and well-being. It offers information on those who help these performers, and helps performers find local appropriately trained clinicians. Whether a GP or ENT surgeon, osteopath or physiotherapist, singing or pilates teacher, this training event is for you. You can expect the speakers and performers to open your eyes to multidisciplinary team management with a difference. With the current fit note prompting us all to assess work related health problems with more finesse, this really is the CPD event to attend. ENT problems, pain, breathing difficulties…it is the bread and butter of general practice. Stop worrying about the obesity epidemic and help the Fat Lady sing!

Speakers include Dr Faith Gardner, BAPAM doctor at our Glasgow clinic, Kirsten Lord of the Edinburgh Physiotherapy Centre, Sara Watkin, GP and Osteopath, and Tom Harris, ENT Surgeon and Consultant to RADA.

The cost of the day is £65 for practitioners, £35 for students.

Click here for the booking form. Please complete and return to us by post with your payment.

If you have any queries please email clare@bapam.org.uk

Many thanks to Dr. Sara Watkin for putting together the programme and organising the day locally.

Research Seminar at Guildhall School of Music

BAPAM — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 10:23:36 +0000

Seminar: Preliminary Findings into the Use of Accent Method with Young and Developing Classical Singers

Professor Ron Morris,Visiting Research Fellow, Guildhall School

Wednesday 24 March

Room 208

17:00pm

Full details (PDF): Preliminary Findings into the Use of Accent Method with Young and Developing Classical Singers

If you would like to attend this event please email Research[AT]gsmd.ac.uk.

This event is organised by the Guildhall School of Music