Teaching the whole singer: An examination of methods used to address student wellness in the collegiate voice studio

Abstract

We examined the perspectives and experiences of collegiate voice instructors regarding methods used to address wellness in the collegiate voice studio. Collegiate voice instructors ( N = 835) from 13 states were invited to participate in a researcher-designed survey. A total of 74 respondents completed the survey. All respondents strongly agreed that students’ wellness impacts their performance abilities, which strengthens the case for addressing wellness in the voice studio. There seemed to be a concern with the lack of training in specific techniques, though, so it may be useful to create accessible training sessions and resources related to wellness that are tailored specifically to voice instructors. Respondents seemed to use, value, and were most familiar with breathing exercises and stretching, so future researchers may consider examining the contextual use and effectiveness of these methods as they relate to wellness. While voice instructors believed that it is important to address the whole singer through wellness, they were also careful to guard their own boundaries and be mindful of their own limitations and comfort levels.