THE Real Transformations from Scientists & Physicians
Real stories from Scientists & Physicians who elevated their vocal mastery.
Voice and Science is the bridge Chrissellene has built…
It is with pleasure that I write this recommendation for Chrissellene Petropoulos. Her presentation on the anatomic and physiologic basis of vocal training for singers is excellent.
Most vocal training provided by professional voice teachers at this time is based on timeworn methods that may have little relationship to actual human physiology. As a physician and a singer, I am quite impressed with the extensive work Ms. Petropoulos has undertaken to develop and support her theories of vocal training.
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I have seen a marked improvement in many singers she has coached, and have sought her out myself for this training. Therefore, I speak not only as a doctor, but also as a student of her methods.
Dr. Blair Eig
Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs & Chief Medical Officer Holy Cross Hospital
True mastery of his vocal apparatus was found when my son sang with head colds, allergies, etc…
I am writing to convey my observations, as a physician and a parent, of the Technical, Commands for breathing and the vocal apparatus.
My 16-year-old son expressed an interest in voice lessons at the age of 13. Ms. Chrissellene Petropoulos came highly recommended and my son began voice lessons shortly thereafter.
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Over the ensuing three years, through voice changes, seasonal allergies, and various head colds, I have seen steady and consistent progress in my son’s development as a vocal artist.
The Technical Commands have allowed my son to achieve mastery over his voice by gaining control over his palate and his respirations. Rather than being controlled by the vagaries of life (head colds, allergies, etc), my son has been able to sing through these events, demonstrating true “mastery” of his vocal apparatus.
I recommend that you review Ms. Petropoulos’ technical Commands, as well as her compelling companion medical images, for they provide a unique physiologic basis for achieving command of one’s vocal apparatus.
Eric B. Lieberman
M.D., FACC
Ms. Petropoulos has a unique and scientifically valid assessment of various essential elements of vocal mastery…
It is an honor for me to write a testimonial of support for Chrissellene G. Petropoulos, B.A., M.Mus., A.D. who has spent twelve years defining, demonstrating, and documenting objective measures which alter the-human voice.
Ms. Petropoulos has analyzed and categorized elements of vocal master, including body posture, head, mandibular, and neck positioning and tilt, tongue, throat and soft palate motion, as well as the muscular function of inspiration and expiration into seven technical commands.
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Her hypothesis is that by understanding and implementing ten specific muscular commands students are able to improve the quality of their voice, and also to protect the vocal apparatus from strain and potential harm.
The culmination of Ms. Petropoulos’ hypothesis is the scientific documentation of how each command alters the voice using direct Fiberoptic laryngoscopy and magnetic resonance imaging. Ms, Petropoulos, using herself as the subject, has recorded a fascinating and outstanding visual display of how the seven muscular commands alter the vocal apparatus, accompanied by the auditory changes. She also illustrates singing techniques, which could lead to vocal cord damage.
Ms. Petropoulos has a unique and scientifically valid assessment of various essential elements of vocal mastery. Prior to this study, Ms. Petropoulos was frustrated by her own personal experience as a world-famous opera singer whose voice was adversely affected by its constant use, despite a lack of visible abnormalities of her vocal apparatus. She then postulated that phonation is a complex interaction between the various parts of the vocal apparatus and the muscular control of the apparatus and breathing.
Ms. Petropoulos demonstrates with direct laryngoscopy and magnetic resonance imaging how the quality of the sound, as well as the intensity, can be controlled objectively by the vocalist through the physical manipulation of various muscles.
As a physician and musician who has spent hours listening to singers and actors, I am in a unique position to appreciate the scientific voice-enhancing and preserving techniques, as well as, the aesthetic contribution Ms. Petropoulos is making to the education of voice students. She has proven her hypothesis and demonstrated the seven vocal muscular commands objectively via two modern and beautifully clear medical imaging modalities.
I have observed some of the two hundred and fifty subjects in her study perform in master classes, and have seen first-hand how-understanding and utilization of the seven vocal commands defined by Chrissellene G. Petropoulos improves the vocal performances of students of all ages and degrees of musical experience.
I recommend Chrissellene G.Petropoulos and her outstanding scientific study to you highly, and without any reservations.
Pamela Sears-Rogan, M.D., FACC, FASH
Director, Echocardiography Laboratory Director, Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography Washington Hospital Center Washington, D.C.
The synchronized sound MRI of her voice is remarkable!
Ms. Petropoulos was recommended to me by a colleague because of her objective approach to voice lessons. I joined her studio shortly after she presented an abstract for The Voice Foundation. It was evident from the comments she received at that time that further objective evidence was necessary for her to validate her unique approach to singing.
By serendipity, we were just developing programs for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the Washington Hospital Center to capture the physiology of cardiac muscle energetics, which required high-resolution images acquired over a short time interval.
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It was also an incredibly fortunate coincidence that the physician in charge of the MRI program was an opera enthusiast. Thus, Chrissellene spent hours in the Magnet during off hours, when it was not being used for patients.
She sang; her husband recorded the sounds; and they documented, using videotapes, the anatomic and physiologic characteristics of her Commands of singing.
The MRI recording was transferred onto a digital tape prepared for recording sound. This video was taken to a professional recording studio, where Chrissellene had to dub her voice singing the scales in sync with the digital MRI.
She also has redone her Fiberoptic laryngoscopy with a prominent otolaryngologist in Washington, which documents the function of the vocal apparatus doing her Commands.
The final product, which resulted from hundreds, if not thousands of hours of labor, is an anatomic and physiologic basis for her Commands of singing. The ability to control those, which are usually autonomic functions, is of great interest.
As a scientist, I can appreciate that which she has documented. As a student, I am humbled by her ability to take a naïve, well-intentioned adult with no air, no vibrato, a closed throat and nasopharynx area, and no clue of remedy, to a sound that is much more appealing to me, my family, and my church congregation.
I would strongly recommend that you—and perhaps, some of your colleagues—spend the time previewing her presentation of the material cited above.
Performance Mode is the way to keep from getting emotionally involved with your performance. This allows you to not lose control of your autonomic nervous system. This is the physiological basis of the prevention of loss of neural pathways which constrict the body and throat.
As we speak and sing, we frequently overlook the complexities of our vocal apparatus. We focus on the sounds, intonation and content. Chrissellene G. Petropoulos has used the most modern imaging techniques to dissect the anatomic and physiologic characteristics of our vocal apparatus.
The synchronized sound MRI of her voice is remarkable. With her methods, we develop an understanding of that which we can control: posture, air flow, tongue, soft palate, throat, and neck positions. I, along with hundreds of her students, have learned her techniques and have effectively incorporated them into my daily public speaking and singing performances.
The late Kenneth M. Kent, M.D., Ph.D
Chief of Cardiology, Suburban Hospital Clinical Professor of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington Hospital Center
You were able to reassure me things were reversible and I could benefit from your restorative science-based system.
I am writing to express my gratitude and appreciation for your expertise in restoring my voice.
Having suffered a serious (non-covid) respiratory illness in recent years, and while entering my senior years (the 80s) my voice became continually hoarse, raspy, and without stamina. In a part of my life I had done choral singing and realized the extent of change.
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You were able to reassure me things were reversible and I could benefit from your restorative science-based system.
It’s now been a year. You were right. Things are coming back and I can even sing again (while working on a two octave range.)
Thank you for your supportive confidence and guidance. Thank you for everything. It’s been an enjoyable journey.
Michael S. Gold
MD.
Chrissellene G. Petropoulos has pioneered the application of MRI technology to the field of voice production.
Chrissellene G. Petropoulos has pioneered the application of MRI technology to the field of voice production.
This is a seminal development, which brings an objective and scientific approach to a field which has rested on subjective criteria until now.
Oscar Mann, M.D., FACP, FACC, FCCP
Emeritus Clinical Professor of Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine
There is none that can surpass the science and the enthusiasm of Vocal Mastery by Chrissellene Petropoulos.
I came to the voice studio of Chrissellene Petropulos at the age of 59 in an attempt to fulfill a boyhood dream of singing in an opera.
I tried to practice hard under her tutelage, and despite many doubtful hours of ever achieving any improvement, she insisted my age was not a barrier. She told the truth!
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I was finally given the chance to sing the role of Dottore Grenvil for three performances of La Traviata with the Catholic University School of Music opera singers at the Hartke Theater in Washington, DC. Since then, I have appeared with several of the singers from the Washington Opera in concerts throughout the Washington metropolitan area and at several medical conventions.
Chrissellene’s Performance Mode posture and vocal training opened up the wonderful world of music to me as well as allowing me the opportunity to live a dream.
I ended my active clinical cardiology career in the field of nuclear cardiology, so you can imagine my astonishment at and appreciation of the MRI imaging produced in Dr. Marc’s laboratory at the Washington Hospital Center. Muscles controlling the voice box were thought to be involuntary when I went to medical school, and now there is clear scientific proof that the voice can be controlled and the sound can reach maximum quality with training to the extent that a genetically mastered instrument will permit.
I have learned over the years that there are as many techniques to singing as there are those who have taught singing.
Where there may be some that are equal in value from a coaching aspect, there are none that can surpass the science and the enthusiasm of Vocal MasteryTM by Chrissellene Petropoulos. Bravo Chrissellene!
I am positive that Chrissellene’s online course and lessons of Voice Mastery™ will bring many hours of joy and success to those who adhere to its principles.
Dr. Lawrence Satin
M.D.
Chrissellene voice technique in our MRI shows all the proof one needs!
My name is Alexander S. Mark and I am the neuroradiologist who helped Chrissellene Petropoulos with her project.
I think this preliminary study opens many new research avenues in our understanding of the human voice and singing in particular. I think the MRI images themselves are compelling.
To my knowledge, this is the first such project which provides in vivo visual correlation between the anatomy of the vocal apparatus and the voice of a highly trained singer.
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The MRI technique we used is available on all the current MRI systems. We used a 1.5T Philips Intera system and performed a series of very rapid acquisition images (approximately 1s per frame) through the larynx and palate and through the diaphragm. The images were then displayed as a “cartoon” in a cine mode providing the appearance of motion.
This is a similar technique to those used in cardiac MRI to visualize the beating heart or in other areas of the body where dynamic types of images are needed for diagnostic purposes.
The original part of the project was the synchronization of Chrissellene’s voice to the MRI images. The entire imaging procedure was videotaped and the various vocal Commands performed in the magnet were then repeated and synchronized with the dynamic MRI.
Alexander S. Mark
Medical Director, Bethesda MRI
Chrissellene’s predictions were supported by the scientific community and I strongly recommend these methods…
27-Recently, I attended Chrissellene Petropoulos’ Vocal mastery techniques, which she has developed and tested in ways that are acceptable to the scientific community.
I was very impressed with the background, data, and demonstrations via powerpoint, fiber optic laryngoscope and MRI videos.The predictions were supported and I strongly recommend these methods.
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The Vocal Mastery techniques provide a unique collaboration between the arts and sciences that enables physicians, professors, performers, and the public to achieve better physical and psychological control over breathing and speaking.
Kim Burgess
PhD
The Fiberoptic laryngoscopy attached to a videostroboscopy are compelling visuals of her performing the various vocal tasks…
I am an Otolaryngologist in Washington, DC, who helped Ms. Petropoulos with her project by performing a flexible Fiberoptic laryngoscopy attached to a videostroboscopy device to record her vocal apparatus during various maneuvers.
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I have not seen her presentation yet, and cannot vouch for its content, but certainly there are some compelling visuals of her performing the various vocal tasks of which she speaks.
Christopher Mesick
M.D., FACS
Seeing is believing! Her research has tremendous implications for enhancing the skills of singers, actors and those with vocal pathology.
Seeing is believing! Chrissellene Petropoulos invited me to her PowerPoint presentation. FIBER OPtic Laryngoscopy and Magnetic Resonance SOUND VIDEO Imaging allows us to view what the body is doing in “real-time” and what we can achieve.
Ms. Petropoulos has demonstrated an important direct link between scientific research and clinical/ professional outcomes. Her research has tremendous implications for enhancing the skills of singers, actors and those with vocal pathology.
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Through her research, insights and technical commands, Ms. Petropoulos has proven that we can truly build, strengthen, and change the muscles involved in breathing, speaking and singing.
Laura Rubinoff, M.S..CCC
Speech-Language Pathologist Bethesda, Maryland