Singing teachers in the dissection room
Veterinary scientist Claudia Wolschrijn shows singing teachers what an animal larynx looks and feels like. This helps them not only to understand how the larynx works, but also how to apply that knowledge when using the voice and addressing vocal issues.
"Holding tissues in your hands and seeing how a nerve runs are real eye-openers. Participants in the workshop say they’re able to give better explanations to their patients because they’ve held it in their hands. It gives them deeper insight and supports their work. I also learn a lot from them in return. They ask questions we at Veterinary Medicine haven’t considered, because voice production is less of a focus for us. They notice changes in their practice, and that makes me reflect on whether we should address those in our teaching. It’s a great exchange, and that makes it incredibly valuable. Working with an external target group is very rewarding – they’re eager to learn and you get so much back. If that energises you, you should definitely do this kind of thing."
Dr Claudia Wolschrijn is a lecturer and researcher in Anatomy at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
Text: Marieke Verhoeven