Q&A with… Christa Durand

Christa Durand is an arts educator, vocal technician, breathing coach and musician who has been enrolled on our MA Voice Pedagogy course for almost a year. We caught up with her to find out more about her career and some of the exciting things she’s been up to recently…

What has been your career highlight to date?

“Looking back on my career journey, it's not a specific moment but a series of rewarding experiences that stand out. For instance, just last Thursday, I noticed significant improvements in my students' singing abilities and personal growth across the board, and I felt so alive and content at the end of the day. Those are the days that affirm my dedication to this path.”

How are you enjoying your MA Voice Pedagogy course thus far?

“I absolutely love it! Sure, there are challenges like figuring out the coursework and meeting deadlines, but the classes are fantastic and the community is incredibly inspiring. The course is at the cutting edge of voice science, equipping us with the tools to teach effectively using physiology, psychology, acoustics, etc. The cohort is spread across different countries, but we are good at connecting and supporting each other. I've been recommending this programme to everyone considering their MA.”

It must be a very busy time running three businesses too! Please tell me more about them…

“The first is ‘Music to My Ears’, a music school in Cotati, California that my husband and I bought in 2019 after I taught there for about eight years. We've upheld its 20-year tradition as a fun and inclusive place for children and adults to learn music and participate in the theatre arts. We have a team of around 20-25 teachers offering lessons in most instruments, voice, acting, dance, musical theatre shows, opera and more.

Next is ‘Silver Belles’, an acapella jazz group I manage and sing in. We specialise in holiday music and retro arrangements from the 1950s-1960s. The group is full of talented musicians, and we often create arrangements on the spot if someone requests a song we don't have.

Lastly, we are owners of ‘Cotati Moves’, a shared collective space that fosters movement as medicine. Collective members provide professional bodywork, as well as a range of dynamic classes and workshops, and on-site chiropractic care.”

And how about your private singing teaching practice?

“Within my private practice, I teach around 20-30 students a week (mostly adults) and occasionally direct operas or musicals. I teach most Western styles of singing and specialise in beginning piano for very young children and adults, using methods that promote physical and social development and foster emotional safety and the love of music. I also specialise in helping adults with moderate to severe vocal issues. I have been able to employ many tools and techniques that I have learned from my MA programme.”

You are also on the board of two local non-profit organisations…

“Yes, I’ve been on the board of the Redwood Empire chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) for about seven years, serving as Vice President for three of those years. I am about to step into the role of President next month. We provide workshops or masterclasses to our singing community, host several concerts a year (to give students and teachers the opportunity to practice performing), and hold an annual Singing Festival and Scholarship Audition Event at the local university.

I also serve as the Artistic Director on the board of ‘Up Street Music Patrons’. This organisation fundraises to provide financial aid to local students seeking to enrol in private music lessons and theatre arts programmes. We also have a programme that awards local graduating high school seniors scholarships for college if they are attending university and pursuing a degree in music.”

I hear you’ve recently been involved with revitalising a historic theatre venue – can you talk about that?

“We recently took over a small, historic theatre in Sebastopol, California to prevent the town from losing its theatre space. For the last 30+ years there have been some incredible theatre companies in this building. The building itself is about 100 years old and was at one point a general store, and then a pharmacy. It even housed the town’s first public telephone. The door to that telephone booth is now the door to our sound booth!

We’ve been painting, cleaning and sorting for a month now to get ready for our grand opening at the end of August. Passers-by stop in to say how happy they are that the theatre space is being preserved. The theatre will be home to Music to My Ears productions and we will also open a satellite business for music lessons in the rooms upstairs. The theatre will host a wide array of programmes for both adults and children, as well as community events.”

Last but not least… what plans do you have for the future?

“I am focusing on grounding myself within my local community, channelling my skills and talents to foster positive change within my immediate surroundings. If everyone dedicated their energies towards uplifting their local communities, the cumulative impact would be a powerful force for good. Such localised actions would create ripples of change and joy, inevitably blossoming outwards, touching lives far beyond our immediate periphery.

Revitalising communal spaces and facilitating opportunities for individuals to engage with the arts are tangible actions that lie within my reach. Encouraging everyday people to create, appreciate and immerse themselves in music and art fosters communal bonds, enriching their lives and the lives of those around them. The arts hold the potential to create a more empathetic and joyful world.”