Anne Tarvainen, phd

is an ethnomusicologist with a focus on the experiential and cultural meanings of the human voice and singing.

She has conducted research on the embodied and aesthetic singing experiences of the d/Deaf, unskilled and vocally impaired singers (Kone Foundation 2018–2020). She has also examined human voice and background music as part of sound environments in the service industry workplaces (ACMESOCS research project, 2022). 

In her research, Tarvainen investigates the human being as an embodied, sentient and vocal entity. She explores the vocal, sensory and aesthetic relationships of human beings to their environment and to each other. The aim of her approach is to democratise the vocal practices of Western culture by questioning prevailing norms and highlighting vocalities that have previously remained marginalised.

Tarvainen has published the book Singer's Voice and Expression — An Embodied Approach to Listening to a Singer, with Björk as an example (2012). Her articles have been published in the Journal of Somaesthetics and Pragmatism Today, among others, as well as in the edited volume Aesthetic Experience and Somaesthetics (Brill 2018). She is the co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Somaesthetics.

In addition to her work in academia, Tarvainen is a founder and teacher of the Voicefulness®-method. She has also worked as a teacher in singing, vocal maintenance, relaxing voice and voice improvisation. Tarvainen makes her own music under the stage name Aava Uusikuu. She has previously worked for the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra in marketing and music education.

For further information: www.annetarvainen.fi