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Date of Award

Spring 2025

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Department or Program Affiliation

Music

Degree Name

Master of Music (MMus)

Department

Music

First Advisor

Bourne, Patricia, 1957-

Second Advisor

Kasper, Angela

Third Advisor

Youngblood, Felicia

Abstract

This paper explores the potential applications of consent-based practices into choral classrooms and rehearsal spaces, and how these practices may benefit choral spaces and their performances. It looks to the work, best practices, and vocabulary developed by theatrical intimacy professionals to inform a consent-based pedagogy in choral settings.

Chapter One lays the groundwork for the primary body of research of the thesis, describing the origins of intimacy direction as a craft, its goals, and its influence on arts educational spaces already, as well as its potential for application in other spaces, such as for choral directors and their ensembles.

Chapter Two presents the primary ideological principles of consent-based practices and identifies their alignment with equity-centered trauma-informed practices, namely as outlined by Alex Shevrin Venet, and describes physiological impacts that trauma and stress may have on student experience and learning, as well as on singing and performance.

Chapter Three contains a collection of consent-based tools and practices applicable to a choral classroom, with the goal of developing a culture of consent and autonomy among all participants. The toolkit is extended further through a case study, chronicling consent-based tools and practices implemented in a rehearsal process for Considering Matthew Shepard at Western Washington University, documenting their impacts on chorus members.

Chapter Four summarizes findings and offers considerations for future study within the realm of consent-based practices, for education and beyond. Appendices containing a printable collection of tools and practices discussed are available as well, written to serve English- and Spanish-speaking students.

Type

Text

Keywords

Music, Education, Choir, Consent, Trauma, Conducting, Singing, Performance

Publisher

Western Washington University

OCLC Number

1521416699

Subject – LCSH

Choral singing--Instruction and study; Music--Instruction and study; Intimacy coordinators (Performing arts); Choral conductors

Format

application/pdf

Genre/Form

masters theses

Language

English

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.

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