Lead Department
- Wind, Percussion, Pop, Jazz, Traditional, Voice and Theatre Studies
Coordinated by
Christine Scarry (Christine.Scarry@mtu.ie)
Active Members
11
Purpose
This Learning Community was established to enhance collaboration and best practice among staff delivering the acting and singing modules on the BA in Musical Theatre. The primary focus is on improving knowledge and skillsets in the area of Vocal Health and Voice Care to support both staff and students. Given the unique demands of musical theatre, maintaining vocal health is critical, and this Learning Community aims to create an interdisciplinary approach that integrates expertise from both academic and industry professionals. Additionally, the Learning Community fosters engagement with the performing arts industry, ensuring that students and staff stay connected with evolving practices and standards.
Summary
- The Learning Community has evolved from its original purpose as a forum for collaboration between acting and singing lecturers into a specialised group focused on vocal health. Regular meetings are held to discuss teaching methodologies, challenges, and opportunities for professional development. A key initiative planned for this year is a weekend-long workshop featuring leading industry professionals in vocal health, including laryngologists, speech therapists, and manual therapy experts. The workshop will facilitate hands-on learning, peer observation, and open discussions between facilitators and staff to integrate best practices into the curriculum.
- The Learning Community also promotes knowledge-sharing sessions where members can discuss their continuing professional development (CPD) achievements and new teaching strategies. Furthermore, industry engagement remains a key objective, with external guest workshops on cross-disciplinary vocal training. These initiatives ensure that both staff and students benefit from up-to-date, research-informed teaching practices that align with industry standards.
