Caring for Your Voice and You
Vocal Rehabilitation and Vocal Massage Therapy for Singers and Speakers
Caring for Your Voice and You
Vocal Rehabilitation and Vocal Massage Therapy for Singers and Speakers
Voicecare for Singers
Range, quality, stamina and flexibility
Voicecare for Speakers
Vocal stamina, resonance and projection
Vocal Health and Rehabilitation
Vocal health, recovery and rehabilitation
Vocal Massage Therapy
Gentle, client-led vocal massage
Your vocal health and wellbeing are vital
Whoever you are, and however you use your voice in life, whether that be as a professional voice-user like a singer or actor, or as any other person who needs to communicate effectively, your vocal health and wellbeing is vital. Your voice and your identity are closely intertwined and sometimes it is not until vocal function is lost that we recognise how central our voice is to our personality and our life. Recovering from vocal injury, or simply feeling that something is not quite right with your voice, can be hugely distressing.
I am a trained and qualified vocal rehabilitation coach and vocal massage therapist, with counselling skills and a thorough knowledge and understanding of vocal health, vocal pathology and voice disorders. I can provide an empathetic ear and safe space to explore your vocal health and wellbeing with you so that together we can make a plan to get the very best out of your voice and your performance.
The Whole Story: Your Voice and You
Your voice is inextricably woven into who you are, and you are a complex being. Problems with your voice are rarely caused by one thing alone, but are brought on by multiple factors. we can work together to get the very best out of your vocal technique, and together we can look at the whole picture and context of your daily voice-use.
We look at your whole story, from your nutrition and physical exercise through medications and environmental factors, your vocal load management and how you relieve the emotional stresses in your life, with onward referrals wherever necessary.
Whether you have a diagnosed voice disorder or just a sense that something isn’t quite right or could be working better, I will listen to you, and work with you with care, expertise and respect, and without judgement.
The Whole Story: Your Voice and You
Your voice is inextricably woven into who you are, and you are a complex being. Problems with your voice are rarely caused by one thing alone, but are brought on by multiple factors. we can work together to get the very best out of your vocal technique, and together we can look at the whole picture and context of your daily voice-use.
We look at your whole story, from your nutrition and physical exercise through medications and environmental factors, your vocal load management and how you relieve the emotional stresses in your life, with onward referrals wherever necessary.
Whether you have a diagnosed voice disorder or just a sense that something isn’t quite right or could be working better, I will listen to you, and work with you with care, expertise and respect, and without judgement.
Hello, I’m Nicki,
I am a singer with a background as a Classical soloist, and as a session recording artist. I have performed as an international Classical soloist in concerts and operas, and I have worked as a recording artist in London for over a decade, appearing on the soundtracks of countless Hollywood movies and animations, including Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter, Shrek and many, many more.
I began the deep dive into vocal health, anatomy, voice science and voice care when working with large groups of young singers during vocally demanding projects, as I wanted to help them to sail through with full vocal fitness. Over the last 10 years I have spent all my spare time investigating the many fascinating areas of voice science that inform current pedagogical practice, from acoustics, through motor learning theory to emerging neuroscience theories and potential psychological impacts on singing.
In 2023 I became a fully qualified Vocal Rehabilitation Coach and Vocal Massage Therapist, and work with numerous singers and speakers who need help with their voices.
I am entrusted with young singers at the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain and with the Rodolfus Foundation, have my own busy practice working with vocal health in London and Jersey, and teach at the Jersey Academy of Music.
How I love to work
As Part of a Team
I love to work as part of a team, and where appropriate I will work with your regular coach or teacher, with your clinical team or will build a team around you, bringing in other professionals, such as speech and language therapists, Feldenkrais practitioners, osteopaths, counselling etc.
I have a broad network of trusted colleagues and am happy to refer clients onwards to the best possible practitioner for what they need.
With a Holistic, Person-Centred Approach
Vocal injury or fatigue is rarely caused by one event, but is far more likely to be brought on by a cocktail of life events and pressures that together can trigger a voice problem.
I am trained in counselling skills and offer a confidential, holistic, person-centred care package, arranging further referrals where needed.
“Clients and students are lucky to be able to work with Nicki.”
“Nicki is one of the first of the Voice Rehabilitation Specialists to complete our training pathway. She has an exceptional understanding of people and their voices, integrating all aspects of their psychosocial influences with the function of their voice use. Nicki is a deeply thinking practitioner, she brings together all aspects of her own performing background and further training; her clients and students are lucky to be able to work with her.”
Dr. Jenevora Williams – Vocal Rehabilitation Coach and Director of Education at Vocal Health Education
“Nicki Kennedy is the kind of voice teacher everyone wants to have.”
“Her depth of knowledge is only surpassed by her compassion for others and her desire to help others reach their vocal goals. I have had the opportunity to observe her teaching and have been impressed by her ability to meet each student where they are, especially when there are complex vocal issues at hand. Her extensive training in vocal health and rehabilitation are evident in everything she does.”
Kerrie Obert – Internationally acclaimed speech-language pathologist and leading expert in voice training and pedagogical practice
Voice injury is as common and as inevitable as physical injury is for an athlete
Vocal injury should not be stigmatised or judged, and nearly all vocal functional problems can be resolved one way or another. I am happy to work alongside your clinical team or to build a team around you if needed, and help you find your confidence in your voice once more. Here’s how I can help you…
Voice injury is as common and as inevitable as physical injury is for an athlete
Vocal injury should not be stigmatised or judged, and nearly all vocal functional problems can be resolved one way or another. I am happy to work alongside your clinical team or to build a team around you if needed, and help you find your confidence in your voice once more. Here’s how I can help you…
Vocal Health Check-ins
Book a one-off vocal MOT with me to see how things are, or to ask any questions you may have about your voice.
Vocal Massage Therapy
I am trained and insured to deliver vocal massage therapy in a person-centred treatment, gentle but effective and led by the client.
Voice Rehabilitation
Safeguard your voice against fatigue and injury, or book rehabilitation sessions with me, a trained specialist to improve your vocal outcomes after injury.
Performance Anxiety Coaching
I am a Counselling-Informed practitioner using evidence-based strategies to offer solutions to help with everything from general nerves around performance to debilitating performance anxiety.
Vocal Health Workshops
Choral or group workshops focused on safeguarding the voice, step by step, during busy or high intensity vocal periods. Purpose-built warm-up and cool-down strategies and the most up-to-date thinking on best vocal practice.
Talks and Warm-ups
Information, presentations and workshops for choirs, school singing ensembles and individuals who want to safeguard their voices against fatigue and injury in busy periods, concentrating on breathing, alignment and resonance.
Singing Lesson & Public Speaking Coaching
For voice and performance coaching for singers and speakers join me on a vocal adventure at Nicki Kennedy Voiceworks to make the most of your voice and discover, or rediscover, the joy in your performance.
“After only two sessions my voice has improved.”
“It’s not only about breathing properly. There are a number of exercises which have increased my confidence and improved my singing and spoken voice, which Nicki has demonstrated with patience and humour. I would recommend Nicki to anyone who wants to improve their singing or voice control.”
Elaine Heuston
“Nicki shares expert technical advice in a fun engaging way.”
“Having seen Nicki working with a range of choirs, from small consorts to large choral societies, I have always been struck by her extraordinary ability to share expert technical advice in a fun and engaging way. Whether live or online, her sessions leave singers of all ages feeling enriched and motivated.”
Tim Johnson – Precentor & Director of Music, Eton College
Pressures and Performance
I have had the privilege of experiencing the fabulous international lifestyle that comes with the touring artist’s job. I loved the travel and thrived on performing in high pressure performances in some of the world’s most prestigious venues.
I also know first hand the vocal, physical and emotional load that can come to bear on a singer, actor, teacher or voice-user of any kind. Balancing family, life, vocal load, finances and economic hardship can become a highly stressful experience if things shift out of balance. It can sometimes be just one tipping point, physical, emotional, psychological… an infection or illness, too full a diary, a bereavement, an unwell child at home, and vocal and personal stress factors can become overwhelming.
It is not your fault!
There is no blame, stigma or judgement to be brought on you. No athlete would expect to go through a whole career without injury. Singers and voice users are vocal athletes, using their voice at a high level and over many hours, and no matter how efficient and well-honed your technique or way of using your voice, you are inevitably going to suffer illness or vocal stress during a career with heavy voice use.
Whilst misusing a voice does, of course result in injury, more often than not, injury or fatigue is simply a case of one too many things in the cocktail of stresses and complications for not just the voice, but a whole person. It is not your ‘fault’ or something you deserve, and you need compassionate and gentle guidance to get back to where you want to be!
How it works
Contact me
Get in touch to arrange an initial 1:1 assessment appointment (60-80 minutes).
I will take a history, listen to your story and your voice with empathy and without judgement, look through notes from colleagues, teachers, clinical team etc, and together we decide on a care plan.
Your Care Plan
Your care plan will usually include up to three sessions with a Vocal Rehabilitation Specialist and may, in some cases also include onward referrals for other treatments that we feel could be helpful, whether these be vocal massage therapy, speech and language therapy, somatic bodywork such as Feldenkrais, Alexander Technique or Pilates/Yoga recommendations, nutrition advice, acupuncture, counselling/psychotherapy or osteopathy.
I am happy to work with your existing vocal coach or singing teacher and can record all sessions for sharing.
In nearly all cases, after three to four sessions of vocal rehabilitation, you can expect to continue your usual vocal coaching or singing lessons.
I won’t continue to charge you for rehabilitation sessions, and if you wish to continue to work with me this will be at a normal singing lesson rate.
Our voice is one of our most precious communication assets
We need to look after our voice to keep it safe and functioning properly. However many people have to work in environments which put their voice at risk. I can help you protect your voice and feel confident.
Our voice is one of our most precious communication assets
We need to look after our voice to keep it safe and functioning properly. However many people have to work in environments which put their voice at risk. I can help you protect your voice and feel confident.
“Nicki is an expert at managing vocal behaviour and gaining trust and confidence.”
“I worked on collaboration with Nicki and a child who had benign acquired vocal nodules. It is notoriously difficult working with young children with this condition as direct work is often not possible and it’s mainly about adapting the environment, adjusting expectations and managing vocal behaviour. In all of these areas Nicki was expert. She gained the trust and confidence of both the mother and child and so the child made progress.”
Cathy Maclennan – Speech and Language Therapist
“After working with Nicki my voice is back to full capacity.”
“After my vocal problems, I struggled with my confidence in performing and my voice as a whole but seven months later, not only is my voice back to full capacity, and better, my confidence is increasing with every lesson. Nicki is hugely supportive and reassuring which has helped almost as much as her expertise.”
Laura Callander