Voice Care in Children: Stellar Performance at School of Rock Musical
By Linda L. Ganz M.S.CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist
I had an incredible auditory experience listening to the vocally talented children in the touring musical School of Rock, written by Andrew Lloyd Weber. This Broadway musical theatre hit debuted in 2016 in New York City. Last night, I attended the School of Rock performed by the touring Troika Entertainment company at The Smith Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 17 children performers ranged from 9-11 years of age in this smash hit. As a speech-language pathologist and voice specialist who assists children and adults when their voices are compromised, it was a pleasure to hear the stellar vocal quality of these singers.
Children performers undergo grueling practice times and still must see tutors to keep up with their school studies while traveling abroad. Voice care in a young performer is crucial to their continued performance without vocal injury. Vocal fold nodules are the most commonly encountered cause of pediatric voice problems. Symptoms of voice injury include chronic breathy or harsh voice over a long duration. Vocal fold cysts are less common in children. If children are feeling voice fatigue or finding their voice is not performing as usual, a consultation with a speech-language pathologist who specializes in voice therapy should be considered. As for the School of Rock Cast, congratulations on a stellar vocal job well done!
