[musictlk] Voice teacher tips

[Julie McGinnity]

Hi Sandra,

Yes, feel free to forward my message onto her.  I am finding advice
from any and all with regards to my future career.  :)

On 11/4/15, Sandra Streeter via musictlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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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-- 
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