Page 119 - CJJan24

2024 ACDA Southwestern Region Conference February 27 - March 2, 2024 Denver, Colorado

First-Generation and the gendered associations and vocal characteristics of
First-Time Music Students: common fach categories and voice classifications, this
Tips for a Successful Transition protocol synthesizes practices from gender-affirming
speech-language pathology (SLP) with source-filter
theory and science-informed vocal pedagogy to present
The transition from high school to college is a daunt- a healthy, gender-affirming practice routine for TGE
ing time for many students, and this transition is even singers who are seeking to masculinize or feminize their
more extreme for students who choose to study music. voices.
This can be especially difficult for our first-generation
and first-time music students who have possibly never Stevie J. Hirner will be a clinician for this session. Her
done private lessons, do not read music, and are often photo and bio are on page 23.
working many hours at an off-campus job while com-
muting to school, and sometimes supporting a family.
Through a qualitative research study, I have identified
helpful tips that music educators can use to help these Forget Sight Reading,
students build a more successful transition to the col- My Kids Can’t Match Pitch!
lege classroom.
What’ll I Do?

Joseph DeSota, DMA, is an assistant
professor of applied voice, vocal division Finding solutions for students to match pitch is a
coordinator, faculty advisor, and Wash- struggle for every teacher. Whether it is the changing
burn Opera studio director at Washburn voice, the inexperienced singer, or the underdeveloped
University. He received his BM from Pep- ear, every teacher must spend time to help their students
perdine University, and both his MM and DMA in vo- develop this necessary skill. We will present and chal-
cal performance from University of Missouri, Kansas lenge pedagogical approaches to help students through
City’s Conservatory of Music and Dance. In addition the voice change and match pitch. We will also pres-
to his teaching position, DeSota is also director of vocal ent some ideas to help these specific students become
arts for the Bar Harbor Music Festival, artistic admin- successful on day one of your class. This will include
istrator for Lawrence Opera Theatre, and co-chair of vocalization exercises, repertoire choices, musicianship
the executive board for the Gilbert and Sullivan Soci- training, and ensemble awareness training.
ety of Kansas.
Brian Hartman will be a clinician for this session. His
photo and bio are on page 107.

Flexible Fach: Sam Anderson is the associate choral di-

Gender-Affirming Vocal Pedagogy rector at Liberty North High School, and
through Science-Informed Practices the music director at St. Paul’s Episcopal
Church, KCMO, along with organist,
Kurt Knecht. As a singer, he has per-
In this interactive session, attendees will be invited formed and recorded with the Kansas City Chorale,
to sing and discuss vocal exercises from a new proto- the St. Tikhon Choir, and the PaTRAM Institute Male
col developed by the presenter that focuses on help- Choir.
ing transgender and gender-expansive (TGE) singers
produce an aural aesthetic that better aligns with their
gender identity. Created through an understanding of

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2024 Volume 64 Number 5 117