Strategies for Voice Coaches Teaching in Groups : An Observation Study of Swedish Municipal Cultural Schools and High School's Art Program

The study examines strategies used by voice coaches in small groups and how they apply cultural-mediating tools. The analysis is primarily based on Hultberg’s theory of cultural-psychological model of musical learning by making music (2009). However, here the strategies are defined as cultural tools through which knowledge is mediated, rather than as part of the framework. Three voice coaches have been observed through video recordings: two at Swedish kommunala kulturskolor (municipal cultural schools) and one at a gymnasium’s (high school) arts program. The study focuses on similarities rather than differences between the voice coaches. According to the study, the voice coaches use ten thematically different strategies, which they combine in different ways and together with other kinds of cultural-mediating tools. The strategies are: routine, questions, placement, mirroring, focusing, openness, peer resources, listening and performance, body awareness, and happiness. According to the analysis, it is possible to adapt the education to the individual abilities of each student through the use of these strategies. In addition, the distributed knowledge becomes an asset for the individual student as well as for the group through interaction.