Every Voice Has A Home: Culture-Changing Student-Driven Voice Placement
Session Abstract: Witness a live demonstration excerpted from Teaching Beyond the Music (Ferdinand, GIA Publications), and discover how one of your existing foundational practices could foster a culture of health, safety, and belonging. Learn how to establish vernacular and lay a foundation where each voice is valued and celebrated, where students feel safe both identifying and exemplifying vocal variety. Multiple Social-Emotional Learning Standards can be covered while structuring your ensemble to sound its best! Learn to facilitate versus dominate the process, release ownership of the outcome to your students, and allow the magic of a healthy student-driven culture to organically unfold.
Hope Milthaler
Kings High School
Hope Kesling Milthaler serves on the National Education Advisory Team for Dr. Jason Max Ferdinand, whose Teaching With Heart choral compendiums are available through GIA Publications. She is Director of High School Choirs in Kings Mills, Ohio. She holds a double Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting and Music Education from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, as well as a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Wright State University. She grew up in New Lebanon, Ohio, where she graduated in 1995 and eventually began her teaching career alongside her beloved mentor, Mr. David L. Keener.
