Lauren McQuistin

My singing teaching is based in trauma informed musicianship. Through teaching people of all ages and experiences, my own singing career and my recovery journey, I have experienced that musicianship can aid and support trauma recovery. In collaboration with a doctor at Yale I wrote this paper, a pedagogical guide on how to better support survivors of trauma in the singing studio, and how the act of singing can become a way to experience agency, self-esteem and connection, which has been published in the Journal of Singing and NATS.

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The processes of learning vocal technique, accessing the breath in a safe way, embodying a comfortable posture, and practising mindfulness are powerful tools to facilitate the return to the body after a traumatic event, or a history of trauma. With the musical life enhancing the connection to the body, community, and something larger than ourselves, we can use music as a powerful tool for healing the emotional fractures in those areas after experiencing a trauma. However traumatic experiences create an extra set of challenges for the student - body armouring, hyper-vigilance and dissociation. Survivors of trauma may need a different approach to the foundations of their voice, to find what was lost and give back what was taken from them. 

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Based on my research and ten years of teaching experience, I have developed a course, 'Discipline, Surrender, Flow', designed for people in recovery who want to connect with their body and their voice. It recognises these challenges, and approaches them compassionately. It is a slow, breath orientated course where we go back to basics and build the voice up from a place of safety in our body. Using vocalises, breathwork, bodywork and creative exercises we grow our voice and its expression, to find release, comfort and safety not only in our singing but many other areas of our lives. It is for all levels, all genres, and gives principles to apply to all songs and repertoire.

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If this is of interest to you, you can purchase a package of these lessons below:

 

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Currently I have availability for 1:1 lessons, in person for those who are London based, and on zoom for those in different locations. 

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£65 for 1 hour

£50 for 45 minutes

£40 for half an hour

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Discounted rates are available for NHS workers, students and unemployed people. Please feel free to email me to discuss. 

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