Claire Cannon - Vocology in Practice Authorized Instructor Spotlight
Where in the world are you based?
Warrington, United Kingdom. (A town in the North West of England between Manchester and Liverpool.)
Where do you teach?
I teach online and in person from my home studio. I also teach voice on the A-level music course and vocational pathways at a local college (Cronton college).
Fill in the blank: “Singing is …..”
Storytelling.
What is one accomplishment (big or small) you are proud of as a coach?
I'm really proud that I was able to continue to grow my business throughout Covid19. March 2020 was terrifying as a self-employed coach. Not only was I worried about how I might cope financially, I also worried that many of my younger students' progress would be interrupted. Luckily, I was able to start up an online choir, expand my client base and continue to teach all my regular clients online. It made me realise that singing lessons were an important part of a healthy routine for so many of my students.
Is there a tool, mindset, or strategy you’ve embraced that has made a
positive impact on your studio or clients?
In terms of tools... the straw is life, ha. But I think my only ‘blanket strategy’ is to use the first few minutes of every session to just slow things down. Whether it’s a student coming straight from work who got stuck in traffic, a nervous new student, or someone coming in with a voice issue, it’s important to create a space between the stress of the day and ‘the now’ to have a productive session.
What drew you to become a ViP member?
Many of the coaches that I have been lucky enough to study under are members of VIP so it was always a goal to become certified. Coaching can feel isolating sometimes so it is important for me to feel part of a community.
What has been your favourite EdHub presentation so far? What particularly
interested you about it, or what did you learn from it?
All of the EdHubs offer such brilliant insights but I am always amazed by how much I learn from Chris Johnsons classes. He has the ability to take really complex information and make it easily applicable in the studio.
Which of our 7 Principles resonate with you most and why?
Since I started teaching I have devoted most of my time to learning about vocal anatomy and health. I believe that you must have an understanding of these elements when people are trusting you with their voice. In the last few years my client base has changed massively. A majority of my clients are professional vocalists and I have really noticed the negative effect that the work life of a singer can have on the body and mind if not properly managed. Many of the issues I see in my studio are often related to stress and fatigue so understanding how the body and mind relate to vocal health is crucial.
Are there any particular areas of interest or research about voice that you
love discussing?
I'm fascinated by the psychology of singing. I'm currently undertaking a masters degree in voice pedagogy with a focus on performance coaching (with the voice study centre), as I believe that there is a need for further understanding of coaching techniques to help mitigate stress in working singers. My current research around musician burnout highlights the juxtaposition between the huge amount of research into the positive effects of music making on mental health, and the growing concern around the current decline in the mental health of our musicians.
Tell us a funny fact about yourself.
I was kicked out of the school choir in primary school (not sure if it was because I couldn’t sing or because I was a pain in the backside, both could be true), but 20 odd years later I was running the choir at the same school. My whole career path could have been the result of me just trying to prove a point to my old music teacher.
Do you also perform? If so, do you have anything to share about some of the
things you have been up to recently?
I originally trained as a performer, but I only really perform for fun nowadays. I am a proud member of ‘the Christie Musical Theatre Company’ who are a group of professional performers who stage musical theatre productions and have raised over 60k for the Christie foundation trust to help fight cancer. I am also lead vocalist and co-writer on a few tracks with EDM duo “Flip and Fill’.
Are any of your clients (past or present) enjoying commercial success?
Many of my earlier students went into musical theatre and it's always amazing to see them get into their dream universities or book their first professional jobs. Nowadays I get to collaborate with many musicians who are at the top of their game, and I'm always shocked by how vulnerable artists can be in sessions. I think it's part of my job to be a quiet cog in their machine until, of course, they want to shout me out.
Instagram @_clairecannon
