Teaching musical theater to the high school voice students

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Date

2009-12

Authors

Tucker, Jennifer Leigh

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Abstract

In this treatise, I will examine musical theater as a pedagogical tool for adolescent singers who have just begun training in classical singing technique. In addition to being a viable performance outlet, musical theater offers the student repertoire options in English, and can be used as an exercise in song interpretation. An adolescent with a mediocre voice or limited range can find something within the repertory to accommodate their personal limitations without sacrificing their desire to sing. Musical theater repertoire is a valid teaching tool and, when addressed properly and taught with a strong technical foundation, can be an entertaining and worthwhile addition to the student's growing repertory of song. If approached with serious focus on proper vocal production, a show tune can do for an adolescent voice what an art song may not be able to: it allows the singer to practice their art, while serving as an exercise in interpretation, musicality, and emotional connection. It is my hope to provide insight into how to adapt a rudimentary classical technique to a young voice, in order to pursue this genre safely and efficiently.

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