Teaching Experience
Instructor of Voice
WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
MACOMB, IL (SPRING 2022 SEMESTER)
Covered a one (1) semester sabbatical leave during the Spring 2022 Semester.
Taught private lessons to seventeen (17) music majors and ran a weekly studio seminar class in the WIU School of Music. Worked with first-years, sophomores, and juniors who majored in voice performance, choral music education, music therapy, and music composition.
Facilitated and instructed in Studio Class format. Special topics included: Ownership of Voice and Practice Habits, and Cultivating Joy in Solo Practice.
Spirituals Recital Project - Implemented a voice studio recital project that included all students in learning of Spirituals Concert Repertoire, reading and discussion of academic articles focused on bringing Spirituals into the vocal studio and who should sing repertoire from this genre, how to respectfully sing in dialect, research assignments, and the writing of program notes. All students prepared, researched, and performed one Concert Spiritual and presented the audience with program notes spoken from the stage. This was a month-long project that acted as a mini-repertoire class for both students and the audience. All six (6) WIU Collaborative Pianists were utilized for this project.
Performed a Faculty Recital with pianist Jeffrey Brown and cellist Kenny Lee devoted to English-language art song that captured and communicated the immense emotions of the year 2020 (2020 Reflections).
Performed and researched a Faculty Lecture Recital presenting Lori Laitman’s I Never Saw Another Butterfly with clarinetist Eric Ginsberg.
Prepared one (1) Junior Voice Performance major for her Junior Recital (assigned repertoire, coached diction, prepared her for performance which occurred the same semester in April 2022.)
Volunteered to perform in Community Events:
Soloist for April Pray for Peace Vigil in Honor of Ukraine in Chandler Park, Macomb, IL
Soloist at First Presbyterian Church, Macomb, IL.
After my Faculty Recital with some of my WIU voice students
Coaching students in Seminar Class
Students excited and ready for our Concert Spirituals Recital.
Concert Spirituals Recital Poster
Faculty Recital performance with collaborators Kenny Lee (cello) and Jeffrey Brown (piano)
Faculty Lecture Recital with Eric Ginsberg (clarinet)
Voice Studio Student Recital - Concert Spirituals 1916-2022
Faculty Recital - 2020 Reflections - with Jeffrey Brown and Kenny Lee
Graduate student instructor
University of michigan
Ann arbor, MI
(Fall 2020-fall 2021, Fall 2022-present)
Voice 112, 150, 500: Private Voice Lessons
(Fall 2020, Winter 2021, Fall 2021, Fall 2022)
(Instructor of Record)
Worked one-on-one with non-voice majors: undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students across disciplines, many of whom were dancers, theater majors, or involved with arts administration.
Taught foundational vocal technique to students across genres: classical, musical theater, and R&B.
Developed the Musical YouTube Challenge, a weekly online listening and critical thinking activity.
Planned special activities for my voice studio each semester:
BIPOC Composer’s Project (Fall 2020)
Porgy and Bess Panel Discussion with members of the 2019 Met Opera Production (Fall 2020)
Online Studio Class that consisted of masterclasses and performance opportunities for all students (Winter 2021)
Weekly Singer Exploration Activities - a choose-your-own adventure exploration of six (6) major areas that expand a young singer’s development: vocal health, vocal pedagogy, enhanced musical exploration, text and song research, viewing a full online performance, and attendance at a live performance. (Fall 2021)
Voice 111: Voice Class for Theater Majors (Winter 2021) (Instructor of Record)
Taught a class of twelve (12) first-year theater majors. This is the only singing course required in their curriculum.
Created the full course that included focus on singing mechanics, development of artistry, and performance considerations. Each week included one day of lecture/discussion on pertinent topics and one day of masterclass work.
Included two guest speakers from my professional contacts to further impact the class: Clayton Kahler Brown spoke about what it is like working as a professional baritone and Travis Horton shared insights into working with an audition pianist and preparing an audition binder.
Opera 139: Performance Skills 1
(Fall 2021) (Teaching Assistant)
Opera workshop for first-year voice majors focusing on fundamentals including stage direction, audition technique, and best practices for preparing for rehearsals
Presented a 3-part Vocal Health Series that engaged the students in taking care and ownership of their own instruments
Conducted students in rehearsals and performance of “With Drooping Wings” from Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas
Presented Top Ten Tips of Professionalism lecture for first year collegiate singers.
Assisted Dr. Abbigail Coté, Opera Director.
VoiceLit 519: Teaching Voice 1
(Fall 2022) (Teaching Assistant)
Assisting Freda Herseth, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Voice & Voice Training Specialist (UM Vocal Health Center).
VoiceLit 520: Teaching Voice 2
(Winter 2023) (Instructor of Record)
Student Comments from
Anonymous Teaching Evaluations:
“Very first seminar, Professor Worrell implemented a new practice guide, encouraged us to be loving towards ourselves and our classmates through her icebreaker, and shared her plans and goals for the semester. She has helped me reach all my goals and improve drastically. Through her sincere, genuine efforts she has helped me become a better singer.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever had a voice teacher that advocates for their students SO hard like Professor Worrell has. She’s been our biggest cheerleader this semester. I adore her bubbly & welcoming presence. She has a knack for keeping everyone engaged & having fun! ”
“I would just like to thank Professor Worrell for working with me so diligently this semester. I plan on carrying on with voice thanks to her as she has ignited my inspiration for singing even more.”
“As a first semester voice student, I definitely felt like I was a part of a family rather than a classroom. Professor Worrell helped me discover my voice.”
“The Professor knew how to work with individual students with their strengths and weaknesses and how to push them without overwhelming the student.”
“I love that this course allows for such development of vocal skills. Although a short amount of time every week, I feel that Bethany’s instruction provided an abundance of knowledge to carry through each week. She encouraged not only a variety of singing tools, but she asked questions that requested us to think about what we were experiencing. One of my favorite instructors! ”
“Bethany clearly and effectively implemented a diverse set of techniques to provide a good foundation for vocal performance. She was receptive, encouraging, and enjoyable to listen to. ”
“Ten out of ten would recommend!”
“Bethany was great! Very friendly and open but still offered constructive feedback in a way that wasn’t discouraging/condescending. She was open to learning from me as a student as well which is always a great attribute.”