Holistic Voice Coaching (HOVOC)
Nikos Kotrokois has been active in the area of Vocal Training for 20 years. He was a founding member of the science team at the Voice and Swallowing Center of Athens (2010-2015). After the Center ceased its operations due to the financial crisis, prominent members of that team continued their collaboration on the same philosophy, granting anyone facing vocal problems the capability to return to their occupation under healthier conditions. This cross-disciplinary team comprises a vocal doctor, speech therapists, a physiotherapist, a vocal coach (N. Kotrokois) and a psychologist.
In 2018, based on his knowledge and long experience, he put forth his own Holistic Voice Coaching (HOVOC) method, which already yields tangible results for different professional vocal training teams.
Numerous students, including actors, singers, priests, cantors, kindergarten and school teachers et al., have undergone the instruction of N. Kotrokois, among them some noted professionals such as the cantors I. Tsiotsiopoulos (Athens) and V. Sakalis (Patra). He also works with the Byzantine Music schools of the Holy Cathedrals of Piraeus and N. Smyrni, as well as the Simon Karras and IHOMORFES conservatories.
Since 2018 he has served as vocal coach for the cantors of the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi at Mount Athos, and as vocal counsellor for every recording issued since by the Monastery. Since 2020, he extended this activity for the cantors of Docheiariou Monastery, also at Mount Athos.
The Holistic Voice Coaching method is aimed at people wishing to safely use their voice or expand their vocal skills, people for whom their voice is a professional tool, and people wishing to acquire better tonal orientation. In other words, it can give people with unstable or flat voices the ability to sing in tune. In any case, this method is suitable for singers, actors, priests, reporters, politicians, schoolteachers, executives, lawyers, salesmen, et al.
It is evident that, because of his experience as a music director, N. Kotrokois is able to help trainees who primarily use their singing voice in the area of interpretation, as well as vocal safety and technique.
Frequent questions/concerns by potential trainees include the following:
Which kind of breathing promotes vocal safety, and why?
Is bad posture a compounding factor in the process of vocal production, and why?
If I am not a singer, do I still need vocal coaching?
What might immediately help us vocally, making our daily routine easier?
Is age a factor in vocal coaching?
What is the role of articulation in vocal production?
Are warming exercises useful only for singers, or for anyone using their voice in professional context?
Which other factors might affect vocal production, and why?
Could it be dangerous to hear my own voice well?
How easy is vocal training?
Is it better to train singly, or in groups?
How soon can I expect tangible results?
Is there a way to discern whether my coach is a master in his field?