--- Steven Mello <spmello@a...> wrote: > Of course it is possible for a twenty or thirty year old to understand voice so completely that they are capable of effective teaching, but I have no doubt that that is an extreme exception.
Okay, Steven, I agree with everything you said except this. Age has nothing to do with good teaching!
At 27 with a ped degree, I find myself a more effective teacher than some of my university professors. I still have a lot to learn, but age does not make the teacher. I am certain that as I am exposed to more voices and continue my learning in the technical matters, teaching techniques, etc. as well as continue to work on my singing, my teaching will improve. BUT that is (hopefully) a lifelong process for EVERYONE.
Also, it is my opinion that until we have some sort of licensing board for teachers of voice, we will continue to not be respected as we should be. Yes, we each gain respect on our own, but as far as the profession in general, we do not have the reputation we deserve. We are educated professionals! I hope that this need is met in the near future, perhaps by NATS. Yes, education alone does not make a good teacher and neither does a singing career, but this is a separate discussion.
It seems that even within our profession, pedagogical knowledge is not respected (or expected) as it should be. My experience has been that as long as one can impress colleagues with performing credentials, he or she is assumed to be a good teacher. I am surprised that, as I read job postings for teachers of voice, an impressive performance background is ALWAYS stressed whereas pedagogical knowledge is almost NEVER mentioned. Performance experience is certainly important, but one would think that music educators would realize that a pedagogy background is also essential for good teaching.
Melinda
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