Ep.108 Navigating the Adolescent Female Voice Change with Wendy Rolls

Alexa’s guest this week is Wendy Rolls, who divides her time teaching singing at two Brisbane girls’ secondary schools and at her own private studio, conducting a chamber choir for middle school girls. Wendy completed a Masters where her thesis focused on the pedagogical needs of adolescent female singers and is currently tracking the development of nine girls for her PhD. She is the creator of the female voice change pamphlet and post packs and is here to discuss how we can best navigate the adolescent female voice change.

'Our language is so important that we need to make sure we don’t inadvertently put pressure on students'

RELEVANT LINKS & MENTIONS

• Mental Health First Aid England
• Harvard Thinking Routines
• If in Doubt, Breathe Out by Ron Morris and Linda Hutchison
• Singing and Teaching Singing: A Holistic Approach to Classical Voice by Janice Chapman
• James Clear
• Finding Ophelia’s Voice, Opening Ophelia’s Heart by Lynne Gackle
• Singing Teachers Talk Ep.87 How to Manage Allergies and Upper Respiratory Infections with Laryngologist Declan Costello
• Barbara Connable
• Teaching Singing to Children and Young Adults by Dr Jenevora Williams
• Doctor Vox
• Untangled by Lisa Damour
• Good Habits, Bad Habits by Wendy Wood
• Blame My Brain by Nicola Morgan
• Thinking Outside the Voice Box by Bridget Sweet

ABOUT THE GUEST 

Wendy Rolls enjoys working with singers of all ages as teacher, conductor and performer. Her work is informed by a wide-ranging background with a Master of Music Studies in vocal pedagogy from Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Bachelor of Veterinary Science (UQ), Bachelor of Education (QUT), and an Australian Kodály Certificate.

Wendy has worked with many young female singers as choristers and music students, including twelve years in a singing-based school music program, from early childhood to middle school.

Wendy currently divides her time teaching singing at two Brisbane secondary girls’ schools and private studio, conducting an auditioned chamber choir for middle school girls, and PhD study.

Following her Masters' thesis on the pedagogical needs of adolescent female singers, Wendy recognised the need for a clear and simple way to explain girls' voice change. The subsequent pamphlets were well received by both teachers and students, and she was encouraged to explore this area more deeply. Wendy’s current PhD study involves one-to-one singing lessons with nine girls whilst tracking their vocal development and responses to changes they experience.

She has presented at workshops and conferences on vocal pedagogy, vocal health, and musicianship for singers for ANATS, ANCA and Kodály Australia.

Guest Website: rolls.id.au

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