’Mal canto’ and the cultural politics of voice pedagogy: provocations from a critical disability studies (CDS) perspective

‘Mal canto’ and the cultural politics of voice pedagogy: provocations from a critical disability studies perspective.

Critical disability studies (CDS) is a growing field of academic enquiry that has gained considerable traction over the past two decades.   Encouraging us to think beyond typical medical and legal definitions, CDS analyses disability as a complex cultural, historical, political and relational phenomenon.

In this short course, I apply the insights of CDS to voice pedagogy and the academic discipline of voice studies, more broadly. I suggest that disability is highly relevant to our field in significant (and potentially surprising) ways.

In his book, Shakin’ All Over: Popular Music and Disability (2013), Georgie McKay coins the phrase ‘mal canto’ in opposition to the historico-pedagogical notion of idealised singing, ‘bel canto’ (lit. beautiful singing). In this course, I use McKay’s critical concept as a starting point for identifying and disrupting the potentially ableist norms that are often sustained within the field of voice studies and vocal pedagogy.

Key topics:  Critical Disability Studies, access, inclusion, disability justice

🏷️ Price £30 (UK VAT inclusive)
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