What is the McClosky technique?
As a result of his own mid-career health and vocal crisis, David Blair McClosky combined several elements of voice technique into a unique and simple system of voice production. Postural alignment and “appoggio” breathing are the foundation of this approach. The second element is the relaxation of muscle groups of the face and throat, which are primarily responsible for chewing and swallowing, but which when overactive, can hamper easy voice production. These exercises are used to enhance sound production, both in healthy singers and speakers and those with voice disorders. They form a foundation for all voice use, in a simple form that is anatomically and physiologically based. In my own training, the McClosky technique gave me a voice that would be professional in caliber. I believe that good voice production is independent of style and usage: the same principles apply to speech and singing, whether in the classical or popular idiom. I also believe that “vocal image” can be as import
