JAMEA J. SALE, PHD
Executive Associate Director, Choral Foundation & Director, Institute for Healthy Singing & Voice REsearch
Dr. Jamea J. Sale, PhD, is the Executive Associate Director of the Choral Foundation and serves as the Director of the Institute for Healthy Singing and Voice Research. A native of Colby, Kansas, Dr. Sale has a rich academic background, having earned her Bachelor of Music Education in K-12 Vocal and Instrumental Music from Kansas State University in 1987. In 2012, she completed her Master of Music in Vocal/Choral Pedagogy at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. She later obtained her PhD in Vocal Pedagogy and Research from the same institution in 2022.
Dr. Sale's research is dedicated to the developing voice of the female adolescent singer. She is actively involved in a Longitudinal Examination of the Progression of Voice Change in Adolescent Females, a collaborative study between the Institute for Healthy Singing & Voice Research, Allegro Choirs of KC, Zhuhai Classical Children’s Chorus, and Dr. Melissa Grady from the University of Kansas. The ongoing study documents the vocal development of 100 young female singers over a period of 9 months. She is also examining the development of natural vibrato among female adolescent singers, and is working to validate a tool to track the development of the female adolescent voice during voice change.
Dr. Sale has been an integral part of the music community. She has been a member and soloist with the William Baker Festival Singers and the Summer Singers of Kansas City since 2002. Her roles have evolved over the years, from Student Intern to Choral Assistant, Education Director for the Institute for Healthy Singing in 2016, Executive Associate Music Director for the Choral Foundation in 2017, and Director of the Institute for Healthy Singing and Voice Research (IHS&VR) in 2018.
In March of 2023, Dr. Sale extended her outreach efforts to Kapkemich, Kenya, where she contributed to the development of music education programs in local schools. Sale, along with Fellows of the IHS&VR continue the work in Kenya through annual music instrument drives. Her team will return to Kenya in February of 2024 and have plans for the collaboration to be ongoing.
With a certification in Preschool Musikgarten Education, she Dr. Sale led experiential music programs for parents and toddlers for five years. She also served as Assistant Choral Director and Vocal Coach at St. James Academy High School in Lenexa, Kansas, as well as her teaching experience in the Olathe School District. She has served as Voice Specialist for AllegroKC.org since 2012.
Dr. Sale extended her expertise to the community upon establishing JameaSale.com in 2011. At her private music studio, she focuses on promoting the healthy use of the voice through developmentally appropriate training for singers and speakers of all ages.
In 2023, Dr. Sale forged a collaboration between the Institute for Healthy Singing and Voice Research and the voice specialists at Ascentist Healthcare to focus on those in vocal recovery. Together, they serve people suffering from hoarseness, tension, limited range, and other health issues affecting the singing voice.
Dr. Sale is a member of many professional organizations, including the American Choral Director’s Association, The Voice Foundation, Pan American Vocology Association, the National Association for Music Education, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing.
Contact Dr. Sale at JSale@HealthySinging.org
Publications:
Steps Toward Validation of the Female Adolescent Voice Change Singing Status Index: ProQuest International
“Is Something Wrong With My Daughter’s Voice?” Parental Perceptions of the Female Adolescent Voice Change: International Journal of Research in Choral Singing
Singing Through Menopause: ChoralNet & Developing Voices Blogs
The Voice of the Very Young Child (birth to 5 years) Part 1: ChoralNet & Developing Voices Blogs
The Voice of the Very Young Child (birth to 5 years) Part 2: ChoralNet & Developing Voices Blogs