Documenting Trends in CCM Singing with Dr. Elizabeth Benson

How well does your classical singing training prepare you to teach music students today? With the market demanding different skillsets from singers who want to build careers in music theatre, CCM, and other fields, teachers must be familiar with multiple methodologies to prepare their students.

Dr. Elizabeth Ann Benson realizes this. As an Associate Professor of Music Theatre Voice at Auburn University, Elizabeth saw the need for a teaching resource that shares the core values and systems different teachers use to instruct their students. Such a resource not only helps teachers learn new methodologies but also familiarizes them with techniques their students were taught by other teachers.

This led Elizabeth to interview 26 expert CCM pedagogues — including Irene Bartlett, Mark Baxter, and Kim Chandler — who work with leading CCM and musical theatre singers around the world. The resulting book, Training Contemporary Singers, offers teachers a wealth of collective wisdom they can apply in their own classrooms.

Join us as we chat with Elizabeth about the current diversity in modern voice teaching. Listen to her thoughts on the influence voice teachers have over their students and the need for inclusivity and representation in music programs. And learn how connecting with different teaching techniques helps you place students on the right path for their singing goals.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. The advantages Elizabeth’s book offers singing teachers on learning different teaching methodologies 06:22
2. New perspectives on belting in musical theatre that go against commonly held beliefs 10:48
3. The different backgrounds in today’s voice teaching world 14:39
4. The value of being able to refer students to music teachers better suited for the type of singing students want to learn 15:27
5. The need for representation, inclusivity, and genre equity in today’s diverse music programs 20:23
6. How creating a hierarchy of the “best” kinds of music can lead to exclusion and less accessibility for students who come from different backgrounds 24:30
7. The importance of making sure students feel seen, heard, and empowered 25:59
8. The role of size discrimination in the music industry 27:20
9. The importance of taking student body perception when designing your teaching practices 29:12
10. The new expectations Generation Z has for their music teachers 36:07

Find Elizabeth’s book, Training Contemporary Commercial Singers, on Amazon.

Connect with Elizabeth on her website.

And be sure to check out Elizabeth’s IVA webinar, “Trends in Teaching CCM Singing.” Use the code “iva-podcast” to receive $5 off any upcoming webinar event.

About the Institute for Vocal Advancement

Interested in attending professional development webinars with leading voice experts and becoming a more effective instructor? The Institute for Vocal Advancement grants you access to a thriving global community of teachers who work in every area of the music industry. Learn more by visiting our list of upcoming events and Teacher Training Programs.

Use the code “iva-podcast” to receive $5 off any upcoming webinar event.

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