Transformational voice research network
The goal of the TVRN is to encourage practitioners and researchers to critically evaluate the holistic impacts of dominant research methods on voice practitioners: teachers, performers, students, clinicians and scientists.
It aims to support researchers at all stages to explore transformational methodologies, which embrace non-dominant, non-hierarchical, and non-linear paradigms.
The TVRN is a space for researchers and practitioners to discuss and debate the possibilities and limitations of wide-ranging methodologies, to learn from each other, form supportive partnerships and collaborations, and contribute to dissemination of and public engagement in research findings.
Jenna Brown is a UKRI Economic and Social Research Council funded doctoral student at the Institute of Education. She is a UK based practitioner-researcher in Music Education, specialising in vocal pedagogy and vocal health research. She is a fellow of the RSA and a qualified voice rehabilitation specialist and vocal massage therapist and runs Bristol Voice Care, providing rehabilitation and coaching for professional and amateur individuals and groups. She is an editorial board member for The Voice and Speech Review, The Cambridge Educational Research E-Journal, and a peer reviewer for Music Scientiae and Journal of Voice. Jenna is a Trustee and Council member of the Association of Teachers of Singing and is the South-West UK Area Representative. She is a mentor on the MA/PGCert Voice Teaching with ESTA Education and the University of Chichester, and a tutor and assessor for Vocal Health Education.
Jenna trained as a classical mezzo-soprano and voice teacher and continues to manage a busy international work portfolio. As well as performance and vocal health practice, she is currently Assistant Conductor at Bristol Youth Choir and a Music Leader (vocal) at Bristol Beacon, and Vocal Coach for Exultant Singers. Jenna has recent publications on voice and choral pedagogy in the Journal of Voice, The Voice and Speech Review, Australian Voice, Journal of Popular Music Education, and the Journal of Evaluation of Clinical Practice. She is also a writer for Music Teacher Magazine, where she writes resources on singing in schools. She has presented her research at numerous international conferences and is regularly engaged as a speaker and workshop leader for educational and corporate organisations. In 2024 Jenna was awarded best speaker at the Pan European Vocal Conference.
Jenna’s research interests include: voice pedagogy; voice sciences; vocal health; voice rehabilitation; vocal massage therapy; music education; music health and wellbeing; singing in schools; SEND; choral pedagogy; choral conducting; imagery; philosophy; ethical policy and practice.
Jenna is a founder member of the TVRN organising collective.
jenna brown
Singer, teacher, conductor and pedagogue Emily Bender lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
She holds BA in French from Oberlin, an MA in Interdisciplinary Art from San Francisco State and a Certificate in Kodály Music Education from Holy Names University. In 2023, She completed completed her MA in Vocal Pedagogy through The Voice Study Centre and the University of Wales, Trinity St. David, focusing on social justice pedagogies, decolonising practices in the voice studio, and transformative research methodologies. Her academic inquiry and hands-on research culminated in the development of the Transformative Teaching Model (TTM), a guide and set of tools for students and teachers who want to expand their practice to include new genres in a respectful, non-appropriative way through building relationship, context, skills and creativity.
She presented about her teaching model and related research at the NATS Cal-Western Regional Conference in January 2023, the VASTA 2023 conference in Mexico, IVACON 2024 in Edinburgh, and at the 2024 London Critical conference. She spoke about both my teaching model and non-linear approaches to voice research at the 2024 International Symposium on Music Education in Helsinki, Finland.
She is on the faculty of Castilleja School in Palo Alto, CA and Clock Tower Music School in San Carlos, CA. She serves a Soprano Soloist, Section leader and Children's Choir Director for First Congregational Church of Palo Alto.
emily bender
Samyukta is an awarding-winning singer of classical South Indian (Carnatic) music. She began her training at age 8 and had begun singing in the South Indian music circuit by age 13. Just a few years later she was invited to perform solo concerts at several historic venues across the region. Since then, her experience as a classical Indian singer has been bolstered by an active performance career that included several cities in South Africa and the United States. She received The Brinda Repertory Centenary award in 2015 for her work in Carnatic Music. She learns Hindustani music from Pandit Sanjoy Banerjee of the Kirana Gharana.
Samyukta holds an MA in Voice Pedagogy at the Voice Study Centre and the University of Wales Trinity St David and is currently a doctoral research at the Institute of Education at University College London focusing her research on the singing voice for Indian Classical singers.. Her research includes laryngeal registration for ICM singers, the mechanics of ICM vocal ornamentation and how to teach it, and incorporating compassion into ICM classroom settings with a goal to bridge the gap between scientific vocal technique and the oral tradition of ICM. Previously, she studied at New York Vocal Coaching to learn how to incorporate vocal technique into her own style of singing and to begin a career as a vocal teacher of Carnatic Music. She is excited to share what she has learned with students, in India, the United States, and thanks to modern technology, all across the world. Crucial advancements in technique, she believes, can be effectively adapted and brought into the realm of Indian classical music and will bring singers increased longevity, stamina, quality, and vocal awareness.
samyukta ranganathan
Abigail is a Singing Teacher, Music Educator, and Voice Psychology Researcher with over 20 years of experience working with marginalised groups.
Abigail also runs a busy private practice specialising in harnessing voice and musical confidence through ethical, informed singing teaching, professional coaching and neurodiverse sensitive pedagogy. Over half of Abigail’s student base is neurodivergent or living with a chronic health condition.
Abigail has a BPS-Registered BSc in Psychology and a Master of Arts Degree in Voice Pedagogy. Abigail is the Project Coordinator at the International Centre for Community Music at York St John University for the AHRC-funded Singing for Health ResearchProject. Abigail also delivers sensitive music facilitation for dementia, palliative care and bereavement.
abigail mann-daraz
natasha burns
Natasha is a south-coast-based musician, educator, and researcher with over 15 years of experience performing, teaching, lecturing, and directing choirs across the globe, from Bristol to Bangkok. She is currently a lecturer at the University of Southampton and also works privately to make the joy of singing accessible to all.
Natasha’s research focuses on Music Performance Anxiety (MPA), exploring ways to empower performers to embrace their artistry with confidence. She is equally passionate about advocating for radical change within the music education system, particularly through the lens of feminist theory, to create inclusive and equitable spaces for learning and creativity.
A dynamic and engaging collaborator, Natasha is committed to bridging the gap between academic research and practical application, inspiring others to harness the transformative power of music.
tessa smith-whicker
Tessa obtained her BA in Jazz Studies at Leeds College of Music (now Leeds Conservatoire) and her MA in Vocal Pedagogy at UWTSD with the Voice Study Centre.
She has taught in Higher Education across a number of Universities in Yorkshire for over a decade, predominantly focused on Popular Music (PM) vocalists and performance skills.
Her research areas focus on Performance Assessment for PM singers, stylistic awareness in PM styles and decolonisation of PM singing education/assessment. She is also the website designer of TVRN.
Instagram: @tessasmithmusic