Antagonism in Voice Training: Muscle Pairs, Range of Motion, and Contrasting Sounds
Presenters: Chadley Ballantyne and Alyson Culbertson 

The proposed poster explores the dynamic relationships between antagonistic muscle groups that enable varying ranges of motion in the vocal instrument. It outlines exercises, muscle functions, and their results, aimed at enhancing teaching methods for voice instructors. The focus is on facilitating singers' understanding of their vocal instrument's complex biomechanics, encouraging self-exploration over prescriptive methods to shed unhelpful habits and improve vocal technique across styles. 

Window of Tolerance: a student’s zone of emotional safety
Presenter: Sarah DeYong 

A visual representation of the zones of emotional arousal: hypoarousal, hyperarousal, and the Window of Tolerance. Brief descriptions of trauma, Trauma-Informed Voice Care, and some trauma-informed studio adjustment suggestions.

Act Like a Singer/Sing Like an Actor: Five Steps to Incorporating Acting into the Applied Voice Studio for Musical Theater
Presenter: Alisa Hauser

This is a streamlined, time-efficient method for voice teachers to be both technician and coach within the limited time frame of traditional voice lessons. 

Pre-Performance Rituals
Presenter: Oksana Komarenko 

This research delves into the fascinating world of pre-performance rituals in music education. By investigating the types, frequency, and effectiveness of these rituals as perceived by students, this study offers valuable insights into how such traditions can reduce anxiety and elevate performance. Understanding the psychology behind these practices empowers educators to guide students in crafting rituals tailored to their unique needs, ultimately enhancing the pursuit of peak musical performance. 

Physical Touch in the Voice Studio; A Survey of Singers
Presenter: Maria Maxfield 

Data will be presented and synthesized from the 2023 study titled “Physical Touch in the Voice Studio; A Survey of Singers." The main objective of the study was to gain information on physical touch in a voice lesson from the perspective of the student, and to support voice teachers in reconsidering this practice within their voice studios. The study had 147 participants comprised of professional and non-professional singers, students, and young professionals, 18 years and older. 

Collaboration & Implementation of Comprehensive Voice Screenings for Singing Students between a University & a Clinic: An Educational Case Study
Presenters: Theodora Nestorova, John Mac Master, and Françoise Chagnon 

This initiative, "Comprehensive Voice Screenings for Singing Students," addresses the lack of direct access to vocal health resources for university singers, combining expertise from vocologists and medical professionals to offer holistic vocal assessments. Their multi-step screening process involves interviews, medical exams, and analyses, aiming to enhance students' vocal health awareness and provide early intervention when needed. The initiative's outcomes may pave the way for collaborative vocal care models in educational settings, benefitting students' well-being and potentially serving as a model for other institutions. 

How American Negro Spirituals Influenced Both Resistance to Nazis and Civil Rights Boycotts
Presenter: Chandi Plummer 

Embark on a journey through time and across continents to discover how American Negro Spirituals inspired future generations suffering injustice and motivated them to action. Did you know that spirituals impacted lives from Abyssinian Baptist Church during the Harlem Renaissance, to Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Germany during WWII, and from Myles Horton and the Highlander Folk School in Monteagle, TN, to Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the Civil Rights Movement? American Spirituals must continue to be programmed for the concert stage both for their historical significance and artistic beauty, and also because of their power to transform. 

What's On Your Mind: Stress Reduction for Singers through Mindfulness
Presenter: Maria Smithwick

Unmanageable stress levels are persistent obstacles for many singers. To help singers better manage stress, this poster research will explore the practice of mindfulness and offer four breath-based mindfulness exercises. The exercises will include stretching, box breathing, positivity journaling, and external meditation. 

The Value of Method: Applying the principles of bel canto to the modern studio
Presenter: Ariana Wyatt 

This poster will analyze the principles of the bel canto method as they pertain to skill acquisition, and apply them to the modern studio. In our current environment, method can be the most valuable tool in a teacher's toolbox. 

Margaret Bonds' Edna St. Vincent Millay Songs
Presenter: Dana Zenobi 

This poster introduces the NATS community to the compelling musical results of the combined artistic efforts of composer Margaret Bonds (1913-72) and poet Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892-1950). These six virtuosic settings of Millay’s brilliant sonnets on themes of love, desire, and heartache were left in manuscript form, like much of Bonds’ compositional work, at the time of her passing but have recently become available in scores from Videmus, Classical Vocal Reprints, and Hildegard Publishing Company.