a choral nest-building blueprint: raising singers and lifelong musicians

     Today, I had the privilege of attending a very informative, interesting, and inspiring session led by Dr. Doreen Fryling entitled "A Choral Nest-Building Blueprint: Raising Singers and Lifelong Musicians." The session delved into why we are drawn to singing and why certain students continue singing throughout their lifetime, while some only see it as a temporary hobby.

     I found the extensive research that Dr. Fryling had conducted on this topic impressive. She explained to the group that, as a part of her doctoral dissertation, she conducted surveys about why students were drawn to singing, collected information about their musical background, and assessed their vocal-ability at Hofstra University. She used this information to draw conclusions as to why some students are involved in music for longer than others. Throughout her presentation, Dr. Fryling emphasized the importance of teaching self-efficacy in order to keep students involved with singing for a lifetime. I really enjoyed her discussion of how to encourage students, making them feel that they are making progress with their singing.

     Dr. Fryling's session was definitely a highlight of the convention for me. Her sense of humor, warmth, and knowledge was simply inspiring, and I feel very fortunate to have learned from her during the hour I spent in her session.
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-Leah Sperber, IC ACDA '20

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