ANATS NSW Presents Advanced Tools & Techniques: Unwind & Rebuild: Caring for the Singer's Body & Voice

ANATS NSW Presents: Unwind & Rebuild: Caring for the Singer's Body & Voice

THIS IS AN IN-PERSON LIVE EVENT ONLY.

There will not be a recording of this event due to the hands on approach of this workshop.

Join Rachael Cunningham (vocal massage therapist, body-mapping educator and experienced vocal teacher) and Nadine Manion (speech pathologist, singing teacher and voice researcher) for an interactive workshop designed to equip singing teachers with practical tools for promoting vocal ease and supporting students through all stages of their singing journey.

This practical three-hour workshop brings together two specialists working at the intersection of singing, vocal health, and functional movement:

Rachael Cunningham — Vocal Massage Therapist, body mapping educator, and professional singer with over 30 years of teaching and performance experience; and Nadine Manion (MSPS, BCA) — Speech Pathologist, Singing Teacher, and leading researcher in singing voice rehabilitation and contemporary voice training.

Together, they offer singing teachers a unified, hands-on approach to understanding the body, supporting healthy vocal function, and guiding students through both everyday technique and post-injury recovery.

🔹 Part 1 — Rachael Cunningham: Body Mapping, Posture & Tension Release

Rachael will introduce teachers to fundamental body-mapping principles and how inaccurate internal “maps” affect movement, breath flow, and vocal efficiency. Participants will learn a practical body mapping exercise to use directly in lessons, followed by guided demonstrations in:

• recognising common postural patterns that impact singing

• identifying areas of tension in the jaw, neck, larynx, torso and breath mechanism

• using simple, safe self-massage, stretches, and release work to promote vocal freedom

Rachael’s approach gives teachers concrete, hands-off strategies they can confidently introduce in the studio to reduce tension and support sustainable breath use.

🔹 Part 2 — Nadine Manion: Functional Voice Exercises & Supporting Vocal Recovery

Nadine will lead a practical demonstration informed by her clinical work in singing voice rehabilitation. She will address questions teachers frequently face:

• What exercises are safe once a singer is cleared to return to lessons?

• How do we structure the first few sessions after injury, surgery, or fatigue?

• Which early-stage singing tasks help rebuild coordination without straining the voice?

Participants will learn a sequence of evidence-based, functional exercises—such as SOVT work, airflow tasks, resonance resets, and gentle pitch exercises—that teachers can safely guide their students through.

Her session offers clarity, confidence, and a structured approach to working with singers navigating recovery or vocal vulnerability.

🔹 A Unified, Practical Teaching Experience

Throughout the workshop, both facilitators engage participants through demonstration, guided practice, and group involvement.

Together, they provide a holistic, accessible pathway for teachers to:

• understand how the body influences vocal function

• assess posture and tension patterns

• reduce physical strain through movement and release work

• support students recovering from injury using research-informed vocal tasks

• confidently apply early-stage, safe singing exercises in lessons

All activities require no teacher–student physical contact and are designed for use in school, studio, and community choir environments. Comfortable clothing is recommended; participants may bring a yoga mat or physio band if they have them.

Together Rachael and Nadine will offer a combined approach to vocal wellness that is functional, safe, and studio-ready. Walk away with practical demonstrations, clear first steps, and tools you can immediately use with your students.

BIOGRAPHIES

Rachael Cunningham is a professional soprano, vocal educator, vocal massage therapist, and voice teacher who specialises in the connection between body, breath, and voice. Trained in Classical Voice in New Zealand and Australia, she later completed advanced studies in Massage, and Myofascial Release for the voice in Sydney and Adelaide, Laryngeal Manipulation techniques with Jacob Liebermann (Voice Study Centre, UK) and Vocal Release techniques Walt Fritz (USA). For over 10 years she ran Vocalease Massage, working with singers from Opera Australia, professional music theatre, and clients referred to her by ENT surgeons and speech pathologists.

Dedicated to current vocal health research, Rachael continues to update her knowledge and recently completed her Vocal First Aid certification from Voice Study Centre, London. She has presented anatomy and vocal health workshops for organisations including The Song Company, Opera Australia, Pacific Opera, and New Zealand Opera.

As a performer, Rachael sang with Opera Australia for more than 20 years, performing in over 60 operas across Australia and in Edinburgh and China. She was also a Young Artist with Opera Queensland and Pacific Opera. 

With over two decades of teaching experience, Rachael currently teaches at NIDA, Ascham School, and in her private studio. Her approach blends holistic vocal technique with body and breath releases to address underlying tension patterns for long-lasting change. She is passionate about empowering singers and creating joyful, practical learning experiences through her workshops.

Nadine Manion (MSPS, BCA) is a leading singing teacher, speech pathologist, and researcher, known for her expertise in singing voice rehabilitation and contemporary voice training. With a unique combination of clinical and performance experience, Nadine works at the intersection of artistry and evidence-based voice care, helping singers recover, strengthen, and sustain their professional voices.

Nadine’s work focusses on supporting singers navigating vocal injury, fatigue, or post-surgical recovery, using functional and rehabilitative voice training that integrates her background in speech pathology and singing pedagogy. She is also recognised for her advocacy and research in gender-affirming voice work, contributing to more inclusive and accessible approaches to singing training.

In clinical practice, Nadine works in the areas of voice, upper airway, and swallowing at Voice Medicine Australia, led by renowned voice specialist Dr Deb Phyland. Nadine lectures in the Music Department at Macquarie University and teaches voice in the Musical Theatre Department at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where she fosters healthy, sustainable and flexible vocal practice.

As an Adjunct Research Fellow at the Griffith University Creative Arts Research Institute (CARI), Nadine’s research explores the experiences and motivations of transgender and gender diverse singers in Australia, aiming to inform best practice in vocal pedagogy and care.

Nadine currently serves as the National President of the Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing (ANATS), where she is committed to supporting the development and education of the singing teaching community.