I am beginning to process what a joy Saturday has been, my first national conference that I created as Chair of The Association of Teachers of Singing (AOTOS).
As Chair I have the honour of creating 4 national conferences over two years, highlighting the best in vocal pedagogy, voice research, and performance practice around today.
I started my tenure as I start my singing lessons: with breathing.
Rather than a conference of mixed topics, I wanted to present a deep-dive into one topic, and where better to start than a subject which is crucial to good – and healthy – singing.
But there’s another reason why this topic is dear to my heart, and that’s inclusivity. No matter what genre of music a pupil is singing, no matter what stage of hormones that pupil is wrestling with, no matter what age they are, good breath management is what unites us all.
Finally, if we do it well, it’s what unlocks our artistry. That is the point when singing becomes such a useful therapy for our mental health: the therapeutic properties of self-expression.
Not to mention the calming effect of long exhales on our nervous system…
My inaugural conference was “A Breath of Fresh Air: Breathing Methods to bring to your practice,” featuring expert speakers in Accent Method, Buteyko, and Transformational Breath: Linda Hutchison, Sally Dennis, Abi Simpson, Kate Cubley, and Barbara Amoakohene Pursey, with Abstract presentations by Lilli Unwin and Dr Jenevora Williams.