The Voice Pedagogy program at Shenandoah Conservatory is a thriving community of singers, both faculty and students, who are committed to merging scientific research with intuitive knowledge to support singers of all styles.
In the pedagogy program, you will learn a functional approach to singing and teaching that meets the needs of your clients. You will study voice physiology, acoustics, motor learning theory and cognitive science, using repertoire and methods that are both traditional and contemporary, which will empower you to elevate the craft of the singers you teach.
Shenandoah Conservatory is one of the only institutions in the United States with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Voice Pedagogy. We are the first institution to offer a Master of Music in Contemporary Commercial Music Voice Pedagogy and the first to open our Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice Pedagogy to singers of all styles.
Our graduates are teaching at universities and private studios throughout the world, presenting at conferences, and publishing papers in leading journals. Our faculty have produced over 250 publications, presentations, masterclasses and workshops in the last ten years and continuously bring new findings into the classroom. Explore the tabs below to learn more about our individual degrees and secure your audition date before spots are full.
Graduate Programs
- Master of Music in Pedagogy 鈥 Voice (Contemporary Commercial Music 鈥 CCM)
- Master of Music in Pedagogy 鈥 Voice (Classical Voice)
- Doctor of Musical Arts in Pedagogy 鈥 Voice
Janette E. Ogg Voice Research Center (JOVRC)
The internationally recognized Janette E. Ogg Voice Research Center serves as a central hub for our voice pedagogy students. Our faculty have authored dozens of journal articles, book chapters and books, and they regularly present research, masterclasses and pedagogical workshops at international conferences including the the Pan-European Vocology Conference, Pacific Voice & Speech Foundation, the UCSF Voice Conference, Johan Sundberg鈥檚 Function of the Singing Voice in Sweden, Acoustic Society of America, National Association of Teachers of Singing, Vocology in Practice, International Voice Teachers of Mix, Musical Theatre Educators鈥 Alliance, the Southeastern Theatre Conference and many universities through the world. Students frequently collaborate with faculty on research projects that are presented at the Voice Foundation Annual Symposium: Care of the Professional Voice and published in the Journal of Voice and the Journal of Singing.
Research tools available in the JOVRC:
- VoceVistaPro with glottal enterprises PC-2 EGG 鈥 we also have a modified version of VoceVista that allows longer LTAS measurements, and a portable EGG with boom microphone, headphones, and a USB computer connection.
- Glottal enterprises Aeroview software, Rothenberg dual chamber CV mask and a custom-built NEH handle with dual microphones and dual pressure sensors. We also have on loan an MS-110 data interface with the associated transducers and mask and a NEH 2.5 handle.
- Multispeech 3700 from KayPentax
- Madde and Apex from KTH (Decap, RTSect, and Director Musices are also available)
- Praat
- Dr. Speech Real Analysis
- Speechstation 2 from Sensimetrics
- Student versions of Waveview, Aeroview, and Nasality, with training exercises from glottal enterprises.
We actively network with medical professionals in the region and collaborate with other university programs within the School of Health Professions.
Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) Vocal Pedagogy Institute
The gives teachers the tools they need to transform their students into captivating performers. Musical theatre, jazz and commercial artists need a different set of tools than classical singers to reach peak performance. However, a one-size-fits-all approach doesn鈥檛 work for the current professional landscape. Audiences want unique voices, new perspectives and different approaches to storytelling. At the CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute, we show you how to integrate evidence-based technique with the singer鈥檚 identity to unlock the artist inside. You will leave the Institute a better pedagogue, performer and mentor.
Alumni Accomplishments
We are proud of our alumni and the work they do with singers of all genres. Learn more about some of our recent graduates below.
- 鈥14 (Master of Music in Pedagogy) is on the faculty of New York University working with their contemporary singers and coaching professional clients in New York City.
- 鈥17 (Master of Music in Pedagogy) is a voice teacher associate at NY Vocal Coaching in New York City.
- 鈥19 (Doctor of Musical Arts in Pedagogy) is on the voice faculty of Sharjar Performing Academy in the United Arab Emirates.
- Dr. Patricia Campbell 鈥17 (Doctor of Musical Arts in Pedagogy) is a professor and Dr. Leon Neto an associate professor of voice at .
- Dr. Sarah Maines 鈥07, 鈥12 (Master of Music in Pedagogy, Doctor of Musical Arts in Pedagogy) teaches at the University of Portland, , performs with Portland Opera and works as part of the voice care team for injured singers through the OHSU Voice Clinic.
- 鈥13 (Doctor of Musical Arts in Pedagogy) is associate professor of voice and voice pedagogy coordinator at the University of Central Oklahoma. She is also executive director of Painted Sky Opera.
- 鈥20 (Master of Music in Pedagogy) is on the musical theatre voice faculty at Shenandoah Conservatory and runs a successful voice studio in Washington, D.C.
- 聽(Doctor of Musical Arts) is an assistant professor of voice at Southern University and A&M College.
- 鈥18 (Doctor of Musical Arts in Pedagogy) is a lecturer in voice at the University of Hawai驶i at M膩noa.
- Kevin Michael Jones 鈥15 (Master of Music in Pedagogy) is adjunct voice faculty at Millikin University and founder of and .
- Dr. Troy Castle 鈥14 (Doctor of Musical Arts in Pedagogy) is an associate professor of voice at Millikin University.
Faculty Publications
Journal of Voice
- Lynn Helding, Thomas L. Carroll, John Nix, Michael M. Johns, Wendy D. LeBorgne, David Meyer: 鈥淐OVID-19 After Effects: Concerns for Singers鈥
- Brenda Smith, David Meyer (collection editors): 鈥淪ource Readings in Singing Voice Pedagogy鈥
- Leon Neto, David Meyer: 鈥淎 Joyful Noise: The Vocal Health of Worship Leaders and Contemporary Christian Singers鈥
- Kathryn Green, Warren Freeman, Matthew Edwards, David Meyer: 鈥淭rends in Musical Theatre Voice: An Analysis of Audition Requirements for Singers鈥
- Edrie Means Weekly: 鈥淐ontemporary Commercial Music Survey: Who鈥檚 Teaching What in Non-Classical Music?鈥
- Edrie Means Weekly: 鈥淔ollow-up Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM): Who’s Teaching What in Nonclassical Music鈥
Journal of Singing
- David Meyer, John Nix, and David Okerlund: 鈥淰oice Pedagogy: Practical Science in the Studio, Part 3: 鈥楬igh-Tech鈥 Strategies鈥
- Laura Crocco, David Meyer: 鈥淢otor Learning and Teaching Singing: An Overview鈥
- John Nix, David Meyer, Ron Scherer, and Deirdre Michael: 鈥淰oice Pedagogy: Practical Science in the Studio, Part 2: 鈥楲ow-Tech鈥 Strategies鈥
- David Meyer and Lynn Helding: 鈥淰oice Pedagogy: Practical Science in the Studio: 鈥楴o-Tech鈥 Strategies鈥
- Kathryn Green, Warren Freeman: 鈥淒eciphering Vocal Demands for Today鈥檚 Broadway Leading Ladies鈥
- David Meyer, Matt Edwards: 鈥淭he future of collegiate voice pedagogy: SWOT analysis of current practice and implications for the next generation鈥
Australian Voice Journal
- Richard Lewellen, David Meyer, Eva Van Leer: 鈥淭he effects on acoustic voice measures and the perceived benefits of a group singing therapy for adults with Parkinson鈥檚 Disease鈥
NYSTA VoicePrints
- Matt Edwards: 鈥淲hy It鈥檚 Time to Add Pop/Rock to Your Teaching鈥
- Matt Edwards: 鈥淎udio Equipment for Singers鈥
American Music Teacher
- Matt Edwards: 鈥淧reparing Your Students for College Auditions鈥
Southern Theatre
- Matt Edwards: 鈥淒reaming of Singing on Broadway in a pop/rock musical? VP Boyle shares his Top 10 tips to get you there鈥
- Matt Edwards: 鈥淢usical Theatre Voice Training: Think Outside of the Box鈥
The Voice Foundation Voice
- David Meyer, Laura Crocco: 鈥淲hat the Studio Voice Teacher Needs to Know About Motor Learning鈥
Books & Book Chapters
- Matt Edwards, So You Want to Sing Rock 鈥榥 Roll
- Matt Edwards, Chapter: 鈥淎udio Enhancement Technology鈥 in So You Want to Sing Musical Theatre, So You Want to Sing Country, So You Want to Sing Music by Women, So You Want to Sing Cabaret, So You Want to Sing World Music, So You Want to Sing CCM, So You Want to Sing the Blues, So You Want to Sing Gospel, So You Want to Sing Sacred Music, So You Want to Sing Folk Music
- Edrie Means Weekly, Chapter: 鈥淏ringing the Song to Life: It鈥檚 a Matter of Style鈥 in Teaching Singing in the 21st Century
- Matt Edwards, Chapter: 鈥淗arnessing Audio Technology鈥 in Modern Singer鈥檚 Dictionary
- Edrie Means Weekly, contributing author: 鈥淗earty Country Jam with Vocal Stylisms鈥 in The Voice Teacher鈥檚 Cookbook: Creative Recipes for Teachers of Singing
- Matt Edwards, contributing author: 鈥淪ome Words of Wisdom鈥 in Get the Callback
- Edrie Means Weekly, contributing author: The Vocal Athlete: Application and Teaching the Hybrid Singer
- Matt Edwards, contributing author: The Vocal Athlete: Application and Teaching the Hybrid Singer
- Matt Edwards, Chapter: 鈥淭he Art of Perfection: What Every Singer Should Know about Audio Technology鈥
- Edrie Means Weekly, contributing author: Training Contemporary Commercial Singers
- Matt Edwards, contributing author: Training Contemporary Commercial Singers
- Kathryn Green, contributing author: The Vocal Athlete: Application and Teaching the Hybrid Singer
- Kathryn Green, contributing author: The Voice Teacher鈥檚 Cookbook: Creative Recipes for Teachers of Singing
- Matt Edwards, Chapter: 鈥淲hat the Singing Voice Rehabilitation Specialist Should Know About Sound Equipment鈥 in the Manual of Singing Voice Rehabilitation
Faculty Presentations
The Voice Foundation Annual Symposium: Care of the Professional Voice
- Sophia Dove, Kate Elmendorf, Christine Petersen, David Meyer: 鈥淪inging Voice Symptomatology Following Presumed SARS-CoV-2 Infection鈥
- Mohammad Obeid,David Howard, Dan Wilson, David Meyer: 鈥淰ocal Tracts in Virtual Reality 鈥 A Preliminary Report鈥
- David Meyer, Sajan Lingala, Subin Erattakulangara, Wahidul Alam, Rushdi Rusho, Jarron Atha, Gary Christensen, David Howard, Eric Hoffman, Ingo Titze: 鈥淧hysical Modelling of High-Resolution Hybrid CT+MRI Vocal Tract Images鈥
- David Meyer, Sajan Lingala, Jarron Atha, Gary Christensen, David Howard, Eric Hoffman: 鈥淢inimal CT Dosages Necessary for Blended CT+MRI Vocal Tract Imaging鈥
- Emily Castleton, David Meyer: 鈥淔ormant/Harmonic Coupling Patterns in Contemporary Belt as Observed in 鈥楢nd I Am Telling You鈥 from Dreamgirls as sung by Amber Riley鈥
- Edrie Means Weekly: 鈥淰ocal Cool Down: Restoring Balance Post Heavy Voice Load鈥
- Carolyn Sebron, David Meyer: 鈥淎 Lifelong Joy: Persistence and Retention Of Older African American Singers鈥
- David Meyer and Matt Edwards: 鈥淐onnecting the Actor and the Singer鈥
- Kathryn Green, David Meyer, Christina Trinidad: 鈥淪inging in the Mask or Formant Tuning?鈥
- Kathryn Green, Warren Freeman, Philip Sargent: 鈥淎n Analysis of Vocal Demands for Broadway Leading Ladies鈥
- Aaron Johnson, Matt Edwards: “Dynamic Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study of Vocal Tract Kinematics in Contemporary Musical Theatre Singing”
- Edrie Means Weekly: 鈥淐urrent State of Who’s Teaching What in Non-Classical Music鈥
- David Meyer: 鈥淐ost-effective Aerodynamic and Acoustic Measures for Singing Voice Education鈥
- Edrie Means Weekly: “Do Classical Singers Maintain Training Program Post College”
- Matt Edwards and Leda Scearce: 鈥淩ock Rehab: A Collaborative Approach to Working with the Injured Singer鈥
- Edrie Means Weekly: 鈥淧athology Pathways of Professional Singers Singing in Multiple Styles鈥
- David Meyer: 鈥淪eeing Vowels 鈥 Formant Resonances in 3D Modeled Vocal Tracts鈥
- Matt Edwards: “Demographic Changes that will Forever Alter the Future of Voice Pedagogy”
- David Meyer: 鈥淪eeing Voice 鈥 Visualization of Vocal Tract Shaping with MRI鈥
- Edrie Means Weekly: 鈥淰ocal Health Practices of Choral Conductors鈥
- David Meyer: 鈥淔ast Dynamic Speech MRI at 3 Tesla Using Variable Density Spirals and Constrained Reconstruction鈥
- Matt Edwards: 鈥淔unctional Training for Pop/Rock Singers鈥
- David Meyer: 鈥淧erfect Harmony 鈥 the Future of Cross-over Singing Voice Education in University Music Programs,鈥
- Matt Edwards and Kathryn Green: 鈥淲hy and How to Integrate Pop/Rock in your Voice Studio鈥
- Matt Edwards: 鈥淐rossing Over: From Classical to Commercial and Musical Theatre Styles鈥
- Matt Edwards: 鈥淓thno-historical barriers to CCM Voice Pedagogy鈥
- Kathleen Bell, David Meyer: 鈥淭he Effect of Drinking High pH Water on SelfReported Results from the Reflux Symptom Index and a Singer Specific
蚕耻别蝉迟颈辞苍苍补颈谤别.鈥 - Kathryn Green, Matt Edwards: 鈥淐aro mio ben鈥 Won鈥檛 Fly on Broadway 鈥 Crossover Pedagogical Strategies for Music Theatre and Classical Voice鈥
NATS National Conference
- Matt Edwards, David Meyer: 鈥淐CM Voice Pedagogy and the Singing Voice Specialty.鈥
- Edrie Means Weekly: 鈥淐ountry Singing for Musical Theatre 101鈥
- Matt Edwards: 鈥淭eaching the Singer Songwriter鈥
- Matt Edwards: 鈥淜eeping Pop/Rock Voices Healthy on the Road鈥
- Edrie Means Weekly: 鈥淟egit Singing in Musical Theatre鈥
- Matt Edwards: 鈥淪inging with Audio Technology鈥
- Edrie Means Weekly: 鈥淏ringing the Song To Life: It’s a Matter of Style鈥
International Congress of Voice Teachers
- Matt Edwards, David Meyer: 鈥淭he Future of Collegiate Voice Pedagogy: A SWOT Analysis of Current Practice and Implications for the Next Generation of Singers and Teachers of Singing.鈥
PEVOC Pan European Vocal Conference (Dresden, Germany)
- Kathryn Green, Amy Asbury: 鈥嬧 鈥淒octoral Vocal Pedagogy Curriculum Design in the United States鈥
NCVS National Conference of Voice Science (Salt Lake City, Utah)
- Kathryn Green, David Meyer, Matt Edwards: 鈥淐CM Vocal Pedagogy and the Singing Voice Specialist鈥
ASHA Conference
- Katrina Miller, Juliana Rivelli, David Meyer: 鈥淭he Relationship Between Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) and Young Singers: A Survey鈥
Pan American Vocology Association
- Matt Edwards, David Meyer: 鈥淐ollegiate Voice Pedagogy Analysis of Current Practices.鈥
- Matt Edwards: 鈥淧anel: Interdisciplinary Voice Care in an Imperfect World鈥
- Edrie Means Weekly: 鈥淪inging with Style in Musical Theatre鈥
- Matt Edwards and Leda Scearce: 鈥淯ntying the Knot: Resolving Muscle Tension Dysphonia in Singers in the Clinic and Studio鈥
- Edrie Means Weekly: 鈥淰ocal Cool Down: Restoring Balance Post Heavy Voice Load鈥
- Edrie Means Weekly: 鈥淭hey鈥檙e Injured! 377 Voice Educators鈥 Retraining Approaches鈥
- Matt Edwards and Leda Scearce: 鈥溾嬧婬abilitation and Rehabilitation Considerations for Working with Rock Singers鈥
- Edrie Means Weekly: 鈥淏ody & Voice: A Collaborative Approach for Addressing Voice Issues鈥
Southeastern Theatre Conference
- Matt Edwards: 鈥淪o You Want to Sing Rock ‘N’ Roll?,鈥 鈥淗ealthy Belting: Free Your Voice,鈥 鈥淵ou can sing ANYTHING,鈥 Riffing 101: How to spice up your vocals,鈥 鈥淔unctional Training for All Styles,鈥 鈥淟et鈥檚 Get Rocked!鈥
- Edrie Means Weekly: 鈥淪inging In Styles,鈥 鈥淐onnect The Singer and The Actor,鈥 鈥淭he Singing Actor,鈥 鈥淪inging in Style in Musical Theatre,鈥 鈥淭o Belt or Not to Belt,鈥 鈥淎udition Prep Workshop, 鈥淪ong Authenticity: A Marriage of Singing and Acting,鈥 鈥淟egit Singing in Musical Theatre,鈥 鈥淐ountry Singing for Musical Theatre鈥
Association for Popular Music Education
- Matt Edwards: 鈥淲hat Science Can Teach us About the Singing Voice and Why it Matters鈥
- Matt Edwards: 鈥淭eaching Rock Singers Without Destroying Their Voices鈥
NANAS 鈥婲ational Association of Native American Studies
- Kathryn Green: 鈥淭he Orthography of the Seneca Language鈥
PAS7+ (Vienna, Austria)
- David Meyer, Sajan Goud Lingala, David Howard, Eric Hoffman, Ingo Titze: Pilot Study 鈥 High Resolution Hybrid CT+MRI Vocal Tract Imaging.
National Voice Medicine Forum (Shenzhen China)
- David Meyer: 鈥淔unctional Training of the Singing voice鈥
Chinese National Art Voice Conference (GuangZhou, China)
- David Meyer: Keynote Presentation, 鈥淭he Art and Science of the Singing Voice鈥
Faculty Guest Lectures, Workshops & Other Media Appearances
David Meyer
Kabarak University School of Music and Performing Arts, Nakuru, Kenya, Harvard University/Brigham and Women鈥檚 Hospital, Queensland Conservatorium Research Centre, Griffith University, Brisbane Australia, Voice Foundation Annual Symposium: Care of the Professional Voice
Edrie Means Weekly
University of Central Oklahoma, Virginia NATS, Peabody, New England Conservatory, University of Jacksonville, Morgan University, Arizona NATS, Lehigh Valley NATS, Greater Philadelphia NATS, Lawrence Conservatory, Wisconsin NATS, North Carolina NATS, Viterbo University, Morgan State University, Howard University, Young Artists of America, Penn State University, Liberty University, Maryland NATS, D.C. NATS, Ozark Region NATS
Kathryn Green
Universit盲t Berlin (Germany), Universit盲t L眉beck (Germany), Universidade de S茫o Paulo, S茫o Paulo (Brazil)
Matt Edwards
The U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants, The U.S. Navy Sea Chanters, NYC NATS, Summer Vocology Institute, Vocology in Practice, Webster Conservatory, Penn State University, Ithaca College, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Florida State University, University of Portland, Cascade Chapter of NATS, Minnesota NATS, Eastern NY Region of NATS, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Vocal Arts & Science Symposium at the University of Southern Mississippi, Sheridan College, Lawrence Conservatory, Missouri State University, Gettysburg College, Illinois Wesleyan University, South Texas NATS, Westminster Choir College Voice Pedagogy Institute, NATS National Conference (Boston and Las Vegas), Carolina Voices, Hardin-Simmons University, Lehigh Valley NATS, DeSales University, Snow College, Texas Women鈥檚 University, Brigham Young University, Toronto NATS, Otterbein University, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University of of Alabama, Wright State University, Valley of the Sun NATS, Duke Voice Care Center, Georgia NATS, Georgia Southern University, Ohio Northern University, Virginia NATS, Arts Bridge
Podcasts, Radio & Other Online Media
- David Meyer: NPR鈥檚 The Academic Minute, 鈥淐OVID-19 and Singing鈥
- David Meyer: NATS Webinar, 鈥淩eentry After COVID-19: Concerns for Singers.鈥
- David Meyer: NATS Webinar, 鈥淎fter COVID-19: Concerns for Singers鈥
- Matt Edwards: The Happy Singer Podcast
- Matt Edwards: NATS Chat 鈥淐ollege Auditions鈥
Faculty Honors
Van Lawrence Fellowship, presented by the Voice Foundation and NATS
- David Meyer
- Matt Edwards
- Edrie Means Weekly
International Exchanges Grant from the Royal Society in London
- David Meyer
NATS Intern Program Master Teacher
- Matt Edwards
- Edrie Means Weekly
Journal of Voice: Best Clinical Medicine Paper 鈥淪afer singing during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: what we know and what we don’t鈥
- David Meyer