Thinking Outside the Voice Box: Adolescent Voice Change in Music Education

by Bridget Sweet

The changing adolescent voice counts among the most awkward of topics voice teachers and choir directors face. Adolescent voice students already find themselves at a volatile developmental time in their lives, and the stresses and possible embarrassments of unpredictable vocal capabilities make participation in voice-based music an especially fraught event. In this practical teaching guide, author Bridget Sweet encourages a holistic approach to female and male adolescent voice change. Sweet's approach takes full consideration of the body, brain, and auditory system; vocal anatomy and physiology in general, as well as during male and female voice change; and the impact of hormones on the adolescent voice, especially for female singers. Beyond the physical, it also addresses the emotional and psychological ideas of resolve and perseverance that are essential to adolescent navigation of voice change; and exploration of portrayals and stereotypes in pop culture that influence how people anticipate voice change experiences for teens and 'tweens, from The Brady Bunch to The Wonder Years to The Simpsons. As a whole, Teaching Outside the Voice Box encourages music educators to more effectively and compassionately assist students through this developmental experience.

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2019

Reviews

[linaea · Rating 4 out of 5]

read for my middle school choral methods class; very informative and interesting!

[Jessica L Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much from this book and can't wait to teach my students this fall using this book as a guiding resource. As a middle school general music teacher this book was exactly what I needed to help me understand the changing voice and continue to encourage my students as they use their voices. Highly recommend for ALL music educators.