Research on the Aging Voice: Strategies and Techniques for Healthy Choral Singing

ABIGAIL BUTLER is an Assistant Professor of vocal music education at Wayne State University where she teaches classes in choral and elementary methods and directs the women’s chorale. She holds B.Mus. and M.Mus. degrees in voice performance from Keene State College and Midwestern State University, respectively, and a Ph.D. in music education from the University of Arizona. Abigail taught K-12 vocal music for thirteen years in New Hampshire public schools. She has been guest conductor for state and regional music festivals and has served as an adjudicator and coach for the Stephenville Festival in Newfoundland. Her research on multi-age music instruction has appeared in Contributions to Music Education and General Music Today. She is currently working on projects related to choral music teacher education and Renaissance music for children.

VICKI R. LIND, an Assistant Professor of music education at the University of Colorado at Boulder, received her B.Mus.Ed. and M.Mus.Ed. degrees from Wichita State University and her Ph.D. in music education from the University of Arizona in Tucson. Vicki has extensive experience teaching at the university, secondary, and elementary school levels. She served as a music festival coordinator, guest conductor, and music consultant. As a researcher and clinician, she has presented papers at state, national, and international music conferences. Vicki has written articles on choral music participation, teacher education, and student motivation that have appeared in the Choral Journal, Contributions to Music Education, and General Music Today. Vicki teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in music education and serves as the faculty advisor for the student chapters of ACDA and MENC.

KIMBERLY VANWEELDEN, an Assistant Professor of choral music education at Florida State University, completed her B.Mus. degree at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, and her M.Mus. and Ph.D. degrees in music education at the University of Arizona, Tucson. A choral and general music specialist, Kimberly began her teaching career in public schools of State Center, Iowa. She is an active member of the ACDA and MENC, and has presented at state, national, and international conferences. Her research interests include undergraduate conductor training, state choral ensemble contest lists, students with special needs in choral performing ensembles, and vocal pedagogy in the choral rehearsal. At Florida State University, Kimberly teaches secondary general music method courses and conducts the children’s choirs and senior citizens choir.