The Uncovering the Voice Vocal Method

The singing method was developed by Valborg Werbeck-Svärdström, a Swedish Opera singer, to rehabilitate her voice. She consulted with Rudolph Steiner, and in 1924 she launched the school for Uncovering the Voice in Germany.   It is a spiritual science based method of singing in alignment with the principles of anthroposophy. We uncover our own true voice, sublimating our sung tones as we meet the “sound stream” of cosmic music.

This singing path includes specially designed exercises to bring the tongue, palate and lips and mouth under our complete control. We focus on our breathing only to regulate it to its natural state and then we “forget the breathing.”  Singing becomes effortless and stress free and the singer can sing into her nineties with all ranges clear and undistorted.  

There are three distinct phases of this schooling,

• Directional Phase: The singer learns to “place the sound”.
• Expansion Phase: The singer learns to open fully the sound channels and expand the sphere of sound created from the body.
• Reflective Phase: The sound is actually reflected from the cosmos from the solar plexus. 

It is a fascinating physical and spiritual path of discovery and inner growth.  Working with a trained Werbeck teacher can help the new student find the proper sounding and formation of the consonants, vowels and the “in between sound.”  It is this in between sound, or NG, which forms the basis of most of the exercises. It allows the sound to move through the physical mechanism with clarity and warmth without pressure.  But, it has to be experienced, words do not explain properly the actual experience. 

Beginners can “taste” the fine tones as well as seasoned vocalists and no prior training is actually a benefit in this new approach to singing. Artistic singers expand their range and develop a natural brilliance and ring to the voice that is heard by the soul of the listener. The singer likewise, is elevated spiritually and physically as the sung tone actually assists with the ensouling of the body through the alchemy of the singing process. 

Valborg Werbeck- Svärdström

While the method is inherently therapeutic and balancing to the body and allows one to sing beautifully, there is a further training known as “Therapeutic Singing Training.” Graduate  Practitioners of this additional training work within Anthroposophical clinics and communities to assist individuals with their health and breathing imbalances.

This is a course taught by Thomas Adam of Bochum, Germany and the second American training began 2004 in  Santa Rosa, California. 

Master teachers of this work who travel to America include:  Christiaan Boele of Finland and Thomas Adam of Germany. There are many European singing schools, while this awareness and organization is fairly new in the U.S. Our organization, The Singing Association of North America School for Uncovering the Voice was founded in 1994.

To find local teachers of this method, you can find a listing of teachers within the Singing Association of North America Newsletter. Teachers are listed by region.

SANA Yearly Conference:  at Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, Ca.
SANA Newsletter:  Songlyre1@aol.com, or elf_langemann@hotmail.com

CD Release
"As Above... So Below", True Sound Healing with Jan Cercone

Uncovering the Voice at the Rudolf Steiner College Bookstore

“Beginners can ‘taste’ the fine tones as well as seasoned vocalists and no prior training is actually a benefit in this new approach to singing.”

“...the method is inherently therapeutic and balancing to the body and allows one to sing beautifully”

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