Smith-Whicker, T. and Brown, J., 2024. Decolonizing stylistic awareness in higher education contemporary commercial music training: Exploring performer–practitioner experiences through an Africentric approach. Journal of Popular Music Education, 8(Contemporary Commercial Music Vocals), pp.157-178. https://doi.org/10.1386/jpme_00140_1
As a singing teacher who appreciates all the different qualities, experiences and interests that singers present in lessons, Tessa’s research focusses on the requirements her University students have in common: warming up, practicing (and the obstacles to it), and the assessment criteria by which they are marked.
Tessa has been teaching for over 15 years, following completion of a BA(hons) degree in Jazz Studies at Leeds Conservatoire (nee Leeds College of Music). She currently teaches Popular Music vocals at the University of Huddersfield, alongside private teaching, choir-leading and a performance career.
She is passionate about using her research to become a better teacher and to give her students a holistic vocal/musical education to help them grow and develop into informed and intentional singers.