Vocal Pedagogy

Degrees Offered

• Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy
• Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy (One Year Program)

Your Training

The Vocal Pedagogy program is designed for a limited number of majors at the graduate level. The specialized courses and small class size offer opportunities for hands on anatomical experiences and extensive one-on-one interaction with a range of Boston Conservatory faculty and MGH voice specialists and doctors. They also provide space for sharing and exploring teaching techniques and repertoire ideas with colleagues, other students and teachers.

Curriculum

Apply NowThe core of the program is a four-semester sequence of courses in topics of vocal pedagogy culminating in a year of teaching practicum and the capstone project – a lecture recital.  Students of the program will also gain exposure to the latest research and technologies in vocal health and rehabilitation through The Boston Conservatory’s special affiliation with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).  Throughout their program each student will make clinical site visits to the Voice Center at MGH, where they will have opportunities to see a variety of medical techniques ranging from laryngeal scoping to video of vocal cord surgeries.

Pedagogy students receive private voice instruction for four semesters with any member of the voice faculty. The jury requirements and outcomes for these lessons are the same as for those students enrolled in the Vocal Performance degree program. The final lecture recital is on a topic determined and developed by the student and faculty member Kevin Wilson.  The repertoire segment of the core pedagogy course addresses repertoire as it pertains to specific vocal problems or to pedagogical goals. Pedagogy students are exposed to both classical and music theater repertoire through repertoire and diction courses as well as through required attendance at the many vocal studio and solo recitals on the Boston Conservatory performance calendar.

Vocal Pedagogy Faculty

• Kevin Wilson, Director
• Tara Stadelman-Cohen
• Kerry Deal

Voice & Opera Faculty

• Patty Thom, Chair, Voice & Opera 
• Johnathon Pape, Director of Opera Studies
• Andrew Altenbach, Music Director, Opera Studies
• William Cutter, Choral Conducting Studies
• Michael McGaghie, Director of Choral Activities
• Beth Willer, Conductor, Women's Chorus

• Studio Voice Faculty:

  • Marilyn Bulli 
  • William Cotten 
  • Kerry Deal 
  • Rebecca Folsom 
  • Sara Goldstein 
  • Thomas Gregg 
  • Robert Honeysucker 
  • Victor Jannett 
  • James Javore 
  • Monique Phinney 
  • Mary Saunders 
  • Merrill Shea 
  • Lisa Sheldon 
  • Patty Thom 
  • Kevin Wilson 
  • Kathryn Wright

  Opera and Vocal Studies:

  • Michelle Alexander 
  • Jean Anderson Collier 
  • Pamela Dellal 
  • Keely Eastley 
  • Damien Francoeur-Krzyzek 
  • John Kuntz 
  • Brian Moll 
  • Michael Strauss 
  • Melinda Sullivan 
  • Nathan Troup
  • Allison Voth
   

Application and Audition Requirements

Application to the MM Vocal Pedagogy degree program mirrors that for MM Vocal Performance with the addition of an interview with Director of the Vocal Pedagogy program and Chair of Voice and Opera.  Basic requirements include a bachelor’s degree and an educational background in voice and performance. Candidates may self-identify as classical singers or music theater singers. Click here for complete list of requirements.

There is a pre-screening requirement for all applicants to the Vocal Pedagogy degree program.  All applicants must be prepared to perform the following repertoire for their audition:

• An Italian art song
• An art song in either French or German
• An art song in English (not a translation)
• Optional: an aria from an opera or oratorio
• Optional: a popular song or a song from a musical theater show

Outcome Proficiencies

A student graduating from this program should have attained a vocal technique and performance capabilities at a level consistent with his or her peers in the Vocal Performance degree.  He or she should have the following skills and abilities:

• An understanding and mastery of vocal/physical anatomy and vocal technical issues such that an accurate diagnosis and pedagogical plan can be put in place for each individual student.
• The ability to teach students in the classical or musical theater repertoires and address the specific issues of those two productions armed with factual anatomical and scientific information.
• An understanding of the role of the vocal therapist, how to use the therapist as a resource and understand what is available in terms of therapies and rehabilitative processes.
• Knowledge of the resources necessary to pursue independent research into evolving pedagogical theory and vocal rehabilitation techniques throughout the teaching career.
• The ability to teach – from a solid pedagogical, anatomical, scientific foundation – students who are singing classical or music theater repertoire.
• A written personal teaching philosophy.

Apply Now

Click here to apply to this program.