Ros Barnes has a private speech pathology and voice coaching practice in Fremantle, Western Australia. As well as teaching individually, she also consults to the W.A. Academy of Performing Arts in Perth and the National Voice Centre in Sydney, and runs short courses for interested groups.

Her speech pathology caseload includes

• paediatric medically related communication disorders, with special interest in cleft lip and palate disorders;
• coaching for those with voice development needs.
• Ros runs regular workshops for contemporary singing voice in Fremantle, and occasionally interstate. Email for details of the next one, or click here for further info on workshop dates and content.

Ros has been a practicing speech pathologist since 1980. Much of the focus in this work has been on medically based communication disorders in childhood, including velopharyngeal dysfunction, and voice disorders. She is also a singer of contemporary non- classical songs, performing regularly at concerts and music festivals, and has just recorded her third CD, with her musical partner, songwriter and husband, Steve Barnes.

Ros has a particular interest in working with non-classical singing voice, as well as other groups that rely upon their vocal use in their work. These include sports instructors; street theatre performers; auctioneers; actors; teachers; sales consultants and media presenters. She sees her role as teaching the skills to produce the type of voice required for a particular style of use, but in the safest possible way, so that vocal damage does not occur. She believes that

• it is possible to produce loud voice over a prolonged period, without suffering vocal fatigue or damage.
• the traditional approach to the tuition of voice skills is often flawed and based on outmoded principles.
• voice development can be achieved in a much shorter period of time than is often thought to be the case.
• it is necessary to learn about how voice is produced, and work from this knowledge in altering faulty vocal techniques.

Steve and Ros Barnes music pages

Combining a high level of skill in three separate but related disciplines, Ros Barnes brings together an integrated logical and creative approach to the training of voice skills.

Ros has had both a scientific and artistic interest and involvement in singing for almost 20 years. Trained in speech pathology, and speech and drama, Ros also developed a career in the music industry as a singer. Early in her career Ros was only too aware that as much as she knew about clinical voice problems, she was lacking in knowledge and mastery of the skills required for singing, with particular reference to contemporary, non-classical styles. After several frustrating years of trying to find an appropriate teacher, she gave up the search. The singing technique problems of course did not resolve.

In 1987, Ros was introduced to the work of voice scientist and teacher Jo Estill. Estill had had a successful career in opera, but then wished to pursue her interest in the workings of the voice. After many years of study and research, she developed a system for teaching the craft of voicing (Compulsory Figures for Voice), based on these new and controversial scientific ideas. These principles can be used to teach voice use for all styles of singing, as well as spoken word, for example in theatre, teaching or business. Ros has found Compulsory Figures for Voice extremely beneficial in her own singing and now uses the techniques in her work with others. She has assisted Jo Estill in conducting the training courses in Compulsory Figures at all levels. In October 1997, Jo Estill licensed Ros Barnes to conduct complete Compulsory Figures for Voice at all levels. She is one of only two other practitioners with this certification.

Ros believes that non-classical styles (eg contemporary voice, jazz, folk/acoustic/country, rock, world music) require a different physical "set-up" of the voicing system, therefore do not always benefit from teaching techniques best applied to classical styles.

Description of Ros Barnes' vocal workshop

Estill Voice Training Systems

Phone (61) (9) 336 2220 mobile 0412 050 979

17 Stevens St., Fremantle, Western Australia