Rachel Velarde: Attending the Acoustic Pedagogy Workshop

In June, Rachel Velarde, a professor for the College of Fine Arts at Grand Canyon University, attended the Acoustic Vocal Pedagogy Workshop at New England Conservatory. The workshop was a five-day seminar from June 14 to 19 which gave people an opportunity to attend engaging and thought-provoking presentations on vocal acoustics and psychoacoustics, master classes in its pedagogic application and tutorials in technology for studio and research use. The remaining time at the workshop was left to engage in follow up discussions with others and observe and take lessons with the instructors of each course.

The seminar itself contributed as continuing education for many people such as voice teachers for high schoolers, college students, college majors, voice students, choral conductors, voice therapists and more.

The morning sessions included an overview of acoustic voice pedagogy and the special psychoacoustics of the singing voice. The material was all drawn by Kenneth Bozeman’s books: “Practical Vocal Acoustics: Pedagogic Applications for Teachers and Singers” and “Kinesthetic Vocal Pedagogy: Motivating Acoustic Efficiency.” They also pulled information from Ian Howell’s recent articles and dissertation. He is a member of the voice faculty and vocal pedagogy director at the New England Conservatory.

Both instructors introduced basic elements of singing pedagogy as they relate to acoustic output. They also focused on the acoustic landscape singers inhabit, the differing acoustic circumstances facing treble and non-treble voices, the challenges of treble and non-treble transition into the upper voice and effective strategies for overcoming those challenges.

The tuition is $565 and a $40 registration fee with the option of housing at the campus residence hall. Everyone participating in the workshop was encouraged to purchase the books mentioned by Kenneth Bozeman and Ian Howell.

Rachel’s experience at the seminar was valuable for herself as a teacher, her students and the COFAP program. With the experienced instructors and lessons available, there is so much to learn and everything she learned will no doubt be used in her future lessons with students and will build up the College of Fine Arts and Production program. Overall, the seminar was a very rewarding and intriguing experience that anyone with an interest in acoustic vocal pedagogy should attend.

If you want to learn more about Grand Canyon University’s arts program within the College of Fine Arts and Production, check out our website or click the Request More Information button on this page.