Pre-Conference Workshops
July 2, 2010 – 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Workshop 1 – Words First: Creating Dynamic Diction Classes for Singers
In a first for NATS, we gather teachers of foreign language diction for singers in this important workshop led by Dr. Andrew Adams. How did you learn to teach diction class? While voice pedagogy classes have become commonplace, few, if any, courses in the pedagogy of foreign language diction for singers exist. How can we effectively and efficiently cover the many intricacies of various languages? Be part of the conversation as we explore the diverse settings in which diction is taught and how we can engage student singers in this important aspect of their development. Dr. Adams will provide an overview and history of teaching diction and then propose strategies and methodologies to create effective and memorable diction courses.
  Andrew Adams is the Assistant Professor of Piano at Western Carolina University. He earned the Bachelor in Piano Performance from the Kansas City Conservatory of Music and the Master of Music in Vocal Coaching and Accompanying from the University of Illinois where he was a student of John Wustman. In April 2005, he completed his Doctorate in Piano Performance at the University of Colorado at Boulder where he was a student of Robert Spillman.
For six summers (1996-2001) he was a vocal coach at the Utah Festival Opera Company in Logan, Utah and was Head Coach of the festival for the 2000 summer season. Dr. Adams served as Vocal Coach and Director of Collaborative Piano at Iowa State University from 2003 to 2006. He has published articles in and serves on the editorial board of Journal of Singing. In addition, he has accompanied vocal and instrumental recitals throughout the United States and in Russia.

Workshop 2 - A Studio with a View: Employing Visualization Software in Your Daily Teaching
Technology continues to offer teachers of singing new tools for understanding and training voices. Dr. Brian Monson will offer a pre-conference workshop to acquaint teachers with how real-time acoustics and physiological information about your students singing can positively impact your studio teaching. A Studio With A View: Employing Visualization Software In Your Daily Teaching, will provide an introduction to an array of acoustic visualization software programs and help you learn to use the information they provide to enhance your teaching and your students’ singing.
   
  Brian B. Monson is a researcher at the National Center for Voice and Speech in Salt Lake City, Utah. A native of Logan, Utah, he most recently returned from The Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, where he has been pursuing his current research interest in the perception and neuroscience of the singing voice.