| Abstract Title | The Benefits of Multigenre Teaching to Adolescent Singers |
|---|---|
| Submission Category | Voice Pedagogy |
| Presentation Type | Workshop |
| Willing to Present as Poster? | No |
| Abstract | Young singers may be required to sing well in many genres today. Learning the art of balancing a student’s repertoire is fun for the teacher and the student and is an integral part of the student’s musical education. The repertoire provides the building blocks of the foundation for the young singer. As musical theater composers are writing musicals set in multiple styles, young singers must be able to regulate their voices and understand their technique as never before. The importance of 19th-century bel canto exercises still holds the key for developing a solid basis in low-breath support, flexibility training, and vowel placement. In addition, learning to sing jazz and pop-riffing requires legato and careful execution of breath so as not to overwhelm the voice. These genres of music also help with ear training and understanding intervallic relationships. The better the musician, the better the singer. Teachers and their students can navigate the various genres with security by understanding the likeness in terminology and the differences in sensations between them. Choosing combinations of songs among the genres to help strengthen different parts of the voice is effective and does not have to be confusing to the young singer. In this workshop, I will use young singers to demonstrate how they can sing between genres. They will learn to discuss sensations and how to handle the necessary breath and placement transitions efficiently and healthily. We will show how using these mixed genres is practical, accessible, and fun for both teacher and student. I will provide the young singers for the workshop. |
| First Name | Lisa |
| Last Name | Willson DeNolfo |
