Today we’d like to introduce you to Erik Landry
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have been singing since I was a young child, but I had a very sensitive relationship with music, especially the voice. I cried when Ariel from The Little Mermaid sacrificed her voice in order to be human. To me, the symbolism of her throat chakra glowing, and then leaving her body during Ursula’s incantation, was traumatizing. It made me appreciate the power of the voice and the fragility of the voice. I had asked my dad if singers ever lose their voice if they sing too high or too loudly and he said, yes, sometimes singers permanently injure their voice after a few years of singing. That moment was pivotal in my development because I knew that if I wanted to keep my voice for my entire life, then I would need to learn how to protect it.
I completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and my Master’s Degree in Speech-language Pathology at Southern Connecticut State University, a medical externship in Clinical Voice Pathology at the UConn Health Otolaryngology Department under the supervision of two brilliant Voice Pathologists, Starr Cookman and Trish Doyle, completed a year long research fellowship at Yale Haskins Laboratories under the supervision of Dr. Jonathan Preston, completed my post-graduate clinical fellowship at Vegas Voice Institute, and was the director of outpatient Speech-language Pathology serving the some of the biggest singers and actors of Las Vegas at Ear, Nose & Throat Consultants of Nevada.
Now I’m a medical Speech-language Pathologist, with a specialization in singing voice diagnostics and singing voice rehabilitation and I own Vocodojo Voice Center in Austin. Vocodojo doubles as a gym and a healing sanctuary for every facet of the voice: Mind, Body, and Spirit. I have to pinch myself on a regular basis and reflect on all of the things that got me to where I am. I’m so grateful that Leo Von Sol referred me to Voyage Austin. Hopefully you enjoyed my story 🙂
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I am grateful for the stability that my parents provided me throughout my childhood. Even though money was scarce, they still worked hard to make sure that I had enriching experiences. But there was a prevalence of alcoholism and psychological abuse, which was very challenging. But luckily, I had a very strong sense of self and my relationship with my mother was and continues to be very strong.
After high school I had desires to go to college, but my parent’s divorce was very tumultuous and violent, which made it difficult to focus on my future. And my parents didn’t have a college fund saved up for me so I took out student loans and worked, multiple jobs at a time while I was putting myself through school.
I survived the great recession of 2008 while putting myself through school and supporting myself.
Luckily, I had some very influential role models who inspired me find the field of Speech-language Pathology and who encouraged me along the way.
After grad school I drove across the country from Connecticut to Las Vegas by myself to start my new career as a voice pathologist at Vegas Voice Institute.
After that year, there was a small legal battle between the Ear, Nose & Throat Consultants of Nevada and Vegas Voice Institute because Vegas Voice wanted to control where I would work after my externship. The attorneys duked it out, and I was permitted to continue working for Ear, Nose & Throat Consultants of Nevada.
Then I moved to Austin in September of 2019 to open up Vocodojo Voice Center. In October of 2019 the doors opened to my voice center, and then in February the world shut down due to the pandemic. And because I didn’t have any revenue to report, the government didn’t assist me and my business during the pandemic.
So I was forced to work per diem Speech Pathology jobs at Skilled Nursing Centers and Outpatient Pediatric Rehabilitation centers.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Vocodojo Voice Center?
Vocodojo Voice Center is a sanctuary for the voice. I have the privilege of working with famous singers, voice over actors, YouTubers, people diagnosed with vocal nodes, muscle tension disorders, people who were told that they’re tone deaf, people who were identified as gifted singers at a young age, and people seeking gender affirming voice care.
I’m a board certified Speech-language Pathologist with a specialization in voice and aerodigestive disorders. My primary specialty is in singing voice diagnostics and singing voice rehabilitation. At Vocodojo Voice Center, I combine all of my experience as a throat specialist and as a classically trained singer–cross trained in Contemporary Commercial Music.
I sang in the Yale Opera Ensemble, the Yale Russian Chorus, the Broadbrook Opera House, and many other classical and musical theater organizations.
I’m most proud of the healing that people experience at Vocodojo Voice Center. They might come here to increase their range and their vocal power, but then we also create space where they can be completely vulnerable about the voice, which helps them to heal from past traumas.
Dr. Chad Whited from Austin Ear, Nose, & Throat Consultants is my primary referral source, which is an honor to be entrusted to heal and train the voices of Austin.
I offer 1 on 1 in person or virtual voice training sessions a la carte and I offer packages to help people save money. I’m also affiliated with HAAM (Health Alliance of Austin Musicians)
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Let the voice be what the voice wants to be when it wants to be it. Meaning: allow your voice to go soft and loud, high and low, bright and dark, depending on what feels right to you. Your body is your best guide along your vocal journey.
Warming up your voice with the proper exercises can increase your range, vocal control, and help you prevent vocal cord injuries.
Sing music that compels you to sing.
Pricing:
- 100/half hour
- 200/hour
- Vocodojo Academy Package: $3,995 for 30 one hour sessions in person or virtual, plus intermittent progress notes, voice training manual, and support from session to session.
- Vocodojo Fundamentals Package: $1,500 for 18 one hour voice lessons in person or virtual.
- Ten Pack: $995 for 10 one hour sessions in person or virtual
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vocodojovoicecenter.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vocodojo/
Image Credits
Montsho Jarreau Thoth
