Estill Voice Training and the Musical Theatre Performer:Integrating the Estill Voice Training System Into the Musical Theatre Curriculum

Grant:

Gilbert Whitaker Fund for the Improvement of Teaching

Academic Year:

2012 - 2013 (June 1, 2012 through May 31, 2013)

Funding Requested:

$10,000.00

Project Dates:

Thu, 06/27/2013 - Fri, 08/16/2013

Applicant(s):

cwadams

Overview of the Project:

This project was designed to offer faculty members, exposure and training in the Estill Voice Training System. The Estill Voice System is an innovative and practical instructional strategy that teaches stage performers how to approach a variety of vocal parameters such as: pitch, diction, and voice quality in both singing and speech. It assists them to more fully inhabit their characters through voice. The Estill Voice System codifies explicit terminology to and helps communicate with singers/actors/public speakers as they embody a variety of vocal styles and unique characters in live performance. The Estill Voice System offers specific and practical tactics to allow singers to exercise maximum flexibility in their vocal performance. This system has been thoroughly researched and is scientifically precise. Using these strategies, allows performers to safely explore a diverse spectrum of vocal colors and styles. As we have begun to integrate the Estill Voice Training System into the Musical Theatre Department curriculum, we are able to offer our students additional skills as they enter this highly competitive, rigorous and diverse field. In addition to facilitating a singer/actor's ability to access an array of vocal styles, these precise skills offer coping strategies, which will support their vocal health throughout their career. This project included both departmental and inter-departmental faculty collaboration. Funding from this grant was also used to purchase the equipment necessary for the students to utilize the Estill Voice Print Plus program.

Final Report Fields

Project Objectives:

The objective of this grant was to offer Level One Training in the Estill Voice System to faculty members in the School of MUSIC, THEATRE AND DANCE and to afford Professor Catherine Walker Adams the opportunity to pursue advanced Estill Training, Certification Testing and to attend the Estill International Symposium. In addition, funding from this project was used to purchase the equipment necessary for the students to fully utilize the Estill Voice Print Plus program

Project Achievements:

This project successfully achieved, and surpassed, all the goals described in the STAGE ONE GRANT PROPOSAL. The original grant was designed as collaboration between the Musical Theatre and Theatre Departments. As a result of a series of master classes demonstrating the Estill Voice System last winter, five members of the voice faculty in the Music Department expressed an interest in participating in the training during the summer. In addition, there were two public school music educators who attended the training. As a result, The Level One Training more than doubled in size due to interest and demand. In addition, Professor Adams was also able to attend further Estill Voice Training as well as the Estill International Symposium. Lastly, Adams completed the first level of testing and received a Certificate of Figure Proficiency. The bullet points below are selected quotes from the Level One Course evaluations, which illustrate the enthusiastic response from the attendees to this training: • “I am more excited to start teaching this semester than I have been in years” • “I think the specificity of the ESTILL VOICE TRAINING is excellent. I am still trying to both feel and hear and connect these specifics for myself. What is interesting to me, is that Theatre Voice has used some of the terms, like falsetto, twang, sob, and opera to develop character voices but has not mapped the physiological connection with the kind of detail that this training gives, so this is most interesting to me.” • “This totally reframes my knowledge of both physiology and anatomy as well as my understanding of vocal pedagogy” • “There are so many elements that were further explained. Other elements were eloquently affirmed” • "I feel like the Estill approach to vocal instruction is a very refined way to approach a comparison of all the different vocal styles a singer needs to use today. Because of the way the method seeks to build coordination of all parts of the vocal tract, the relationship between the functions of the varying styles becomes much clearer. I think the Estill training provides a lot of really effective tools for the studio teacher whether they teach all legit or a combination of styles." • "One of the strengths of the Estill Approach is the common vocabulary for teaching and learning. This not only ensures that everyone is getting the same information, but it also avoids the necessity to teach the terminology and corresponding physical sensations on an individual basis.” Another important achievement was the impact to the public educators who attended the training Listed below are are the courses impacted by the Level One Training. Portage Central High School/Education for the Arts Advanced Musical Theatre Workshop**; Portage North Middle School 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Choirs, Select Choir, and Drama; Stage productions of ALADDIN, ARISTOCATS and THE SOUND OF MUSIC. **The Advanced Musical Theatre Workshop is one of the ‘Excellence In The Arts Classes’ offered by Kalamazoo County’s Education for the Arts Program. Although the class is hosted by Portage Central High School, it is comprised of students from six different high schools county wide. A combined total of over 400 students are being impacted this year.

Continuation:

This training is being implemented and integrated into the teaching and coaching associated with coursework as well as stage productions in the Musical Theater Department by both Professor Catherine Walker Adams and Professor Cynthia Kortman Westphal. Professor Adams is continuing the process of proficiency testing to become an Estill Certified Master Teacher. Professor Westphal will be pursuing continued training in the Estill Voice Training System this fall in Wisconsin. There has been interest and enthusiasm expressed by others to seek out Level Two Training as well.

Dissemination:

Dissemination of this information was accomplished by offering the Estill Voice Training in a group setting to faculty members from three different departments. One of the challenges of the Musical Theatre Major is that the curriculum is a combination or ‘blended’ major. As part of the core curriculum, musical theatre majors are required to enroll in classes/lessons with faculty members from the three different departments: Musical Theatre Department, School of Music and the Theatre Department. This summer’s Estill Voice Training offered professional development to a divergent group of faculty members from all three areas and created an opportunity to enter into inspiring and exhilarating pedagogical discussions between departments. The training is being disseminated to students through class work, private coachings, private lessons, and preparation for roles in a specific show. There will also be opportunities for students to attend masterclasses where they can be coached by a Estill Master Teacher and will have opportunities to experiment with Estill Voice Print Program.

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