AOTOS Zoom Event: Hacking the Practice Room – Elements of Effective Practice
AOTOS Zoom Event: Hacking the Practice Room – Elements of Effective Practice
Live presentation from Dr Sean McCarther (Westminster Choir College, Rider University, USA)
AOTOS members only
There are many axioms that have been used to describe the learning process, especially as it concerns practice. “Burn it into muscle memory,” “practice makes perfect” and its more insidious version, “perfect practice makes perfect” are familiar admonitions regarding practice. Still, many students lament not knowing what to do in the practice room to actually make significant changes in their technique. This presentation will explore what cognitive science and the field of motor learning say about improving our practice strategies. Participants will leave with some tips and tricks to hack their practice, allowing them to make consistent technical growth as efficiently as possible.
Dr Sean McCarther serves as Associate Professor of Voice and Director of Graduate Studies at Westminster Choir College, New Jersey, where he teaches classical and musical theatre voice, voice science, and movement for performers. He has published several articles in the Journal of Singing and has presented poster and podium presentations at national and regional NATS conferences and workshops, the Dalcroze Society of America’s National Conference, Southeastern Theater Conference, College Music Society Regional Conferences, various state music conferences, and has conducted numerous workshops at universities around the country. He has contributed chapters to two books: one on the intersection of voice science and choral pedagogy and another on creativity in performance, both with GIA Publications.
An advocate for physical theatre and mobile singers, Dr McCarther has created a movement-based performance pedagogy that helps students learn to actively engage their environment, their scene partners, and the audience with the highest potential expression. He is an advanced actor combatant with both the Society of American Fight Directors and the Academy of Fight Directors Canada. He has choreographed violence for numerous plays and musicals both at Rider University and in the surrounding area. Scholarly interests include voice pedagogy, movement, performance psychology, motor learning, and consent and creating safe theatrical space.
Hosted by Janice V Thompson, AOTOS Conferences Director
A recording of this event will be available to AOTOS member in the resources area of the website shortly afterwards.
This event is for AOTOS members only, please log in to view and complete the booking form.