SPENCER WELCH
1. What are you reading?
I like variety so I tend to keep several books on the go at once. I’m just finishing up James Stark’s Bel Canto: A History of Pedagogy for the second time. Great book in which the author compares the writings of the Old Italian School with modern research in voice science.
I’m also part way through The Elements of Skill: A Conscious Approach to Learning by Theodore Dimon Jr. and Practical Vocal Acoustics: Pedagogic Applications for Teachers and Singers by Kenneth Bozeman. I’m basically a voice pedagogy nerd.
2. What are you listening to these days?
I’m enjoying my free three-month membership to Apple Music, so I am clicking randomly on artists I’ve never heard of. It’s a great way to find new music and possibly my next favourite unknown.
3. Where and what do you teach?
I’m the Director of Education for the Institute for Vocal Advancement (IVA), an organization that trains and certifies voice teachers in over 26 countries. I develop the curriculum for in-person and webinar teacher training. This also means I travel a lot to teach masterclasses and teacher-training events worldwide.
I also have my own voice studio in Vancouver (Spencer Welch Vocal Studio.)
4. What are your favourite websites, mobile tools, favourite singers?
I really like the blogs of Justin Petersen, Guy Babusek, Jeanette LoVetri, and Kashu-do. I also love the “Interactive Atlas of Larynx” on columbia.edu with its beautifully rendered animations of laryngeal function.
I use iTunes, YouTube, musicnotes.com, and the Amazing Slow Downer on an almost daily basis in my studio. SoundView for the Mac and VoceVista for PC are great for voice science applications.
Some of my favourite singers include Luther Vandross, Wendy Moten, Dawn Upshaw, Stevie Wonder, Anthony Warlow, Eva Cassidy, Kurt Elling, Lisa Fischer, Jussi Bjorling, and Rachelle Ferrell.
5. Do you have a particular repertoire expertise?
I specialize in vocal technique and registration so I end up working with singers of every genre. That said, my stylistic expertise would be in CCM and jazz.
6. What is your experience with NATS (volunteering, conferences, competitions, judging, etc.)
I am brand new. I attended the weekend with Jeanette LoVetri and enjoyed it. Looking forward to future involvement!
7. What are your professional affiliations?
IVA, NATS, and the Voice Foundation.