The Accent Method Second edition

Originally published in 2001 and much in demand since it went out of print, this edition is a reissue with added chapters on fluency disorders.

The Accent Method was pioneered by Svend Smith, with its early origins in the 1930s and developed during his career until his death in 1985. During this time, he was joined by Kirsten Thyme-Frøkjær, a voice therapist and, latterly, her husband Børge Frøkjær-Jensen an expert in phonetics and acoustic measurements who further refined and taught the Accent Method widely in Europe, culminating in a series of graded voice exercises which admirably combine the basic elements required for good voice production - from singing to stuttering.

The exercises are, by their very nature, practical and dynamic and, in order to ensure their successful application to patients, the Accent Method is normally taught orally and demonstrated to small groups of therapists. This book represents a comprehensive description of the exercises which, together with the accompanying CD, provides a virtual training programme.

The book provides an overview of the history and principles of the Accent Method before going on to explore the anatomy, physiology and acoustics of phonation. Thereafter, the book provides practical instruction on teaching the Accent Method, beginning with breathing and relaxation exercises before proceeding to a detailed description of the Accent Method exercises, describing practical exercises usually taught directly person to person. The final section of the book covers acoustic and physiological measurements in which descriptions and explanations are given for a range of procedures which can be used before and after therapy to give reliable outcome measurements. The authors summarise objective results of their investigations though a 40 year period. This provides data on the efficacy of this form of voice therapy. Notes are used liberally throughout to give clear explanations of technical terms and render the text of this difficult subject eminently readable.