In his best-selling book, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness (Penquin, 2024), Jonathan Haidt describes the reasons why Gen Z students require special learning strategies. Gen Z students, also known as iGen or Zoomers, were born between 1997 and 2012, and are the first cohort of young people to enter an utterly internet-driven world. As the first children of the digital age, they perceive a world that works differently than the one known to previous generations. Gen Z students depend upon technology to gather knowledge and acquire new skills. They have an eye to efficiency in completing tasks and tend to value self-care. They are likely to lack personal experience with simpler or slower methods of achieving goals. As individuals, they pose a challenge to educators whose established way of work is based on earlier practices. Though Gen Z students may lack the context that explains how the art of singing has developed over many centuries, they embody technical expertise that deserves recognition and respect. When a Gen Z student enters the voice studio or choral rehearsal, they bring a unique toolbox of skills that could potentially help voice teachers and conductors work more effectively. This confrontation between old and new could cause a tug of war. Conversely, it can be the opportunity to channel energies into a peaceful, productive dialogue, that enhances the knowledge base and skill set of student, teacher, coach, and conductor. A revised approach by teachers and conductors toward this “rewired” generation is both essential and exciting.

In this interactive workshop, we will discuss the results of social psychology research relevant to the lives of Gen Z students and apply the knowledge to the studio and rehearsal setting. Together we will investigate ways voice teachers and conductors can adjust the pace and content of lessons and rehearsals to accommodate the needs of their student singers. With their reliance on the quick reference available through technology, Gen Z students may question authority and shun rigid methodology. We will address ways to incorporate technology and online resources to the advantage of students and educators alike. Because Gen Z students seek community, organizing collaborative activities has proven useful. We will consider appropriate adjustments in lesson/rehearsal formats, vocabulary and concept delivery that foster a productive, stress-free learning atmosphere. The strategies demonstrated and practiced in this workshop will help us reconsider and adapt trusted practices to benefit future-oriented, technology-savvy students of singing.