A significant part of an actor’s craft is creating and presenting characters with substantial credibility in order to stimulate a belief in the character from the point of view of an audience member (McGaw 1975; McGaw et al. 2011). To do this the actor relies on and utilizes his body, voice, imagination, experiences and so forth, for the creation of such characters (Zarrilli 1995; Benedetti 1998:5; Zarrilli 2002). This makes body and voice training within any actor training program pivotal. As an entry-level voice teacher in the tertiary situation I was confronted with a complex profile of the group of students to be taught. This profile influences or even determines the outcomes of the teaching opportunity. Gender differences were one of the most eminent markers of this complexity. For this project I decided to research the male voice as it possibly requires specific approaches to assist with the attainment of vocal ability. This study is concerned with the unique precepts of the male student actor in order to gain greater understanding of both the male physiological and anatomical construct, as well as the socio-cultural concept of ‘maleness’ as it refers to voice. Voice, in a cultural and societal paradigm, is subject to and as such influenced or shaped by social identity (Karpf 2006: 121). The actor’s socio-cultural paradigm potentially limits the vocal function and expression of the male voice in performance. This study draws on prior research when documenting unique and substantial structural differences typical of the male voice. It asks the question: What are the attributes that feed into the male student actor’s voice that have to be taken into account by the theatre voice teacher when viewed through anatomical, physiological and socio-cultural lenses? In order to answer the investigative question chapter two of this study consults scholarly materials concerning the various anatomical and physiological attributes of voice production (that is, its functional aspects) with specific reference to the male voice. It is argued that this can be seen as a description of voice production as object. Chapter three concerns itself with the impact of various socio-cultural influences on the voice with specific reference to the male voice. In this sense, the potentially subjective and image-defining concerns of the male voice that might impinge on vocal explorations are considered. Chapter four provides example explorations that may be used in a theatre voice class to indicate how the knowledge gained in chapters two and three will influence the facilitation of these explorations. It argues that it is an in-depth knowledge of voice, where voice materialises simultaneously both as object and as subject, that prepares the entry-level voice teacher to facilitate the development of the male student actor’s voice in a holistic manner. This dissertation concludes that, within the theatre voice training class, it is imperative that the voice teacher acknowledges and respects the sex-gender conflation of the male student actor and encourages him to explore and build a ‘voice’ that is capable of optimal expression in lieu its functional capabilities. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / tm2015 / Drama / MA / Unrestricted

Syftet med denna studie är att få fördjupade kunskaper om hur sångpedagoger med hjälp av kommunikativa resurser hanterar sin sångundervisning. I bakgrundskapitlet presenteras forskning inom områdena kommunikation genom kroppsliga resurser, elevers tillägnande och förhållande till kunskap samt lärares val av undervisningsinnehåll. Vidare presenteras multimodalitet och designteori som teoretiska utgångspunkter. Undersökningen är genomförd med hjälp av stimulated recall interview och videoinspelningar. Fyra sångpedagoger som undervisar på högstadie- och gymnasienivå deltar i undersökningen. Sånglektioner har videoinspelats och sångpedagogerna har intervjuats. I resultatet beskrivs vilka hjälpmedel och resurser de använder i undervisningen samt hur de kommunicerar med eleven. Sångpedagogerna använder sig själva som förebildare för att visa olika sätt att använda rösten. Dator är ett verktyg som används frekvent för att hitta repertoar samt spela upp bakgrundskomp. En del sångpedagoger ställer frågor till eleverna för att uppmuntra dem till att reflektera över sitt lärande. Sångpedagogerna lägger ned förhållandevis lite tid på interpretation och ger istället större utrymme till teknik. Notläsning används mycket sällan under sånglektionerna. I diskussionen förs ett resonemang kring förutsättning för lärande och hur ramarna för undervisningen sätts. / The purpose of this study is to gain further insight into how voice teachers, through the help of communicative resources, address voice lessons. The background chapter presents research within the fields of communication through body language, the pupils’ acquisition and relationship to knowledge, in addition to the teachers’ choice of educational content. Furthermore, multimodality and design theory are presented as points of departure.       The study was made using stimulated recall interview and video recordings. Four voice teachers, who teach in Swedish high schools, participated in the study. Voice lessons were videotaped and the voice teachers were interviewed. In the result chapter, the means and recourses applied are described, as well as the ways through which they communicate with the pupils. As role models, the voice teachers have demonstrated various ways in using the voice.  Computers are often used during the voice lessons in choosing repertoire and backgrounds. A few voice teachers direct questions to the pupils in order to help them reflect on their own learning process. The voice teachers devoted more time on vocal techniques than interpretation. Fewer resources were spent on sight reading. In the chapter on discussion, the premises of learning and the framework for teaching are discussed.

The purpose of this treatise is to investigate the efficacy of vocal warm-ups/vocalises and their role in teaching vocal technique and health for the solo singer. In addition, it will provide a brief history of vocalises and methods of the “Bel Canto” era. Current literature addresses warm-ups for choral ensembles and choral singers. It does not adequately address solo/individual warm-ups and their impact on vocal technique, health and performances. Laryngologists and voice professionals were interviewed to better understand the role of vocalises in the study of voice and professional performance. These interviews were conducted in person, by telephone and via electronic mail correspondence. Voice teachers and singers were surveyed on their current vocal warm-up practices both in the voice studio and in performance. Surveys are to be administered in three ways: 1) hard copy surveys delivered at the National Association of Teachers of Singing National Conference 2008; 2) selected nationally known teachers and singers received via ground mail a copy of the survey; 3) an online survey. This study was directed to obtain answers to the following questions: 1) Is there a standard methodology for vocal warm-ups?; 2) If so, how has this methodology evolved over time?; 3) What is the current use of vocal warm-ups and vocalises by voice instructors and professional voice users?; 4) How does the use of vocal warm-ups and vocalises influence the effectiveness of vocal performance?; 5) Does the use of vocal warm-ups or vocalises contribute to the health of the singer, thus resulting in an excellent vocal performance?; 6) Does practicing vocal warm-ups or vocalises have a positive effect on overall vocal health? This study aims to broaden the current understanding of vocalises and their impact on the teaching and performing of classical voice. / text

The focus of this thesis was to explore educational professionals' everyday experience of English educational policies; narrowing its focus to policy which promotes an inclusion agenda. The findings are presented in three sections with the first two papers prepared in accordance with the author guidelines of the journals proposed for submission. The first paper offers a review of literature which represents teacher relationship (see Braun, Maguire and Ball, 2010; Fullan, 2006; Luttenberg, Imants and van Veen, 2013; Luttenberg, van Veen and Imants, 2013; Wexler, 2002) with English educational policies. Teacher perspectives illustrate how the implementation and practice of policy heavily guides practice, both in terms of pedagogy and content, and detail the difficulties teachers have in establishing professional identity whilst trying to accommodate policy into practice. It is suggested that in order for teachers to adopt new educational policies they need to be able to take some ownership of both the policies themselves and of their own professional development; but most importantly, that they need the space to engage in dialogue around their practice to do this. The first paper provided a frame for the second by offering a description of the current climate teachers find themselves in and by discussing what might be needed to bring about the professional development necessary to embed policy into practice. The second paper then presents a description of a collaborative action research project within an English high school; a group of educational psychology, teaching, support and pastoral professionals worked collaboratively to develop person-centred practice through their engagement in an inquiry group. The inquiry group engaged in dialogue around practice; exploring their own personal and professional values as well as the values embedded within person-centred practice. This paper offers an account of the inquiry group's journey, highlighting key themes as identified by the group: ownership of, and confidence in, the learning process; developing reflective practice; and the challenge of engaging others in the learning process. The findings suggest that an action research approach can facilitate the learning and development necessary to embody collaborative person-centred practice. The third paper then offers a critical appraisal of the role that educational psychology can have in disseminating findings and promoting teacher development; in particular through the facilitation of collaborative action research within the school context.

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While the concept of teaching jazz style to vocal students is not a new one, previous materials written on the subject have not addressed two important aspects of this process. One is the concept of selecting jazz vocal solo repertoire that is both musically and vocally purposeful and appropriate for the student. The other is how to teach stylistic concepts that will apply to both current repertoire as well as songs the student will learn in the future. This doctoral essay provides both a categorized list of solo jazz vocal repertoire as well as strategies for introducing stylistic elements of jazz into the private-lesson setting. Through a systematic analysis of jazz vocal standards, a list of repertoire selections was categorized by rhythmic style, melodic range, melodic harmony, melodic rhythm, and harmonic content. In addition, the stylistic need to add syncopations to swing songs with non-syncopated melodies was addressed. Suggestions are included on how to implement this categorized list in the music selection process for students. Furthermore, this essay provides jazz voice teachers with strategies to efficiently incorporate important aspects of jazz styles such as rhythmic feel, song form, improvisation, and harmony into the lesson setting. By showing connections between these concepts and the literature that is being taught, students can become more competent and confident within the vocal and stylistic elements of the jazz idiom.