[musictlk] Voice teacher tips

[Sandra Streeter]

Hi, Julie,

Do you mind if I forward your message to someone? I'm working with an 
experienced voice teacher as an informal student, and she is sighted and has 
a lot on the ball where teaching blind students is concerned--hence, I think 
she would be equally able to apply common-sense answers to some of your 
concerns about teaching as a blind instructor. She's one of those rare 
people who, when asking herself, "If I were blind, how would I want to be 
treated" doesn't jump to false and simplistic conclusions about our 
capability and competence. In our short time together, I have already 
learned so much from her.






Sandra
“To love another person is to see the face of God.”
(Les Miserables--the musical)
-----Original Message----- 
From: Julie McGinnity via musictlk
Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2015 4:48 PM
To: NFBnet Music Talk Mailing List
Cc: Julie McGinnity
Subject: [musictlk] Voice teacher tips

Hi all,

I have been teaching voice for about a year now, but I am going to try
and take on more students after I graduate in December.  Are there any
private voice teachers on this list?  I'm sure instrumentalists who
teach can also answer my questions.

First of all, how do you determine if your students have tention
problems and the type of tention it is.  I have always had trouble
with this.  My methods have always been proactive.  we talk about
posture and breathing.  I do a lot of breathing work.  But as all of
us singers know, we can talk about tention all day, but we may still
be dealing with it.  Sometimes I can hear it in the voice, but most of
the time I cannot.  What are things I can listen for that may tell me
about possible tention?  I'm talking specifically tongue and jaw
tention, since for neck and shoulder tention, I feel a little less
awkward about touching them, though it would be great to hear that as
well...  :)

Do you disclose blindness to potential students?  I never have before.
But I'm wondering if there is a situation in which I would do this.

Also, how do you deal with print music?  I read Braille music and plan
to continue using it in my teaching.  Have any of you ever had to
teach a sighted person to read music?  How do you deal with finding
the music you need?  Do you hire readers?  Do you just go online and
buy it and print it independently?  The sights I have seen seem to be
accessible.  If you have your students buy their own music, it seems
complicated to ask them to make copies so that you can get it
transcribed or get a reader to give you the melody so you can have it
in Braille.

I do not have perfect pitch, and though I have a good memory, I do not
learn music by ear as well as other blind people, so to teach
affectively, I either need the time to figure out the notes in a
melody, or I need to get the music transcribed into Braille.  Of
course, pop songs are easier to pick up on than classical things, but
I am much more comfortable with the notes on the page in front of me.

Anything I forgot?  I'm definitely open to suggestions.  Thanks.

-- 
Julie A. McGinnity
President, National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division,
Second Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Missouri
"For we walk by faith, not by sight"
2 Cor. 7

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