Menopause and the female singer : a survey of physical and psychological changes, and of the available treatments and how these effect the vocal performer

The purpose of this study is to make singers and their colleagues aware of the functioning of their bodies and of the methods that can be used to care for the singer's body, especially the voice, from an early age so that the influence of menopause will be reduced. The study considers the various systems of the body that are relevant to the singer and details how these systems usually function, before examining the various types and stages of menopause. It looks at how menopause affects a singer's body, addresses the diseases and symptoms that menopause may cause, details possible treatment for these diseases and symptoms, and provides information as to how these treatments may affect the singer as a performer. Various singers were interviewed to establish how their careers as professional singers were affected by the stages of menopause, the treatment they received, and how this treatment affected their careers. Professionals in the fields of gynaeco!ogy, psychology and otolaryngology were interviewed who had treated singers suffering from illnesses that could be attributed to menopause. They were asked to provide details of the treatment that they prescribed and to describe how this treatment influenced the performing careers of these singers.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

College of Music

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Allen, Susanna

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Hofmeyr, Hendrik

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7779

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/7779