MA Voice Pedagogy Student Interview: Claire Cannon on Identity and Musicians’ Wellbeing
Thursday 5th March 2026
Voice Study Centre
Welcome to our student interviews!
In this series, we’ll take you inside the experiences of our Voice Pedagogy Master's students. We explore how the course has shaped their practice, what drove them to pursue the MA, and how they’ve navigated their studies so far. The series also highlights their individual research angles and showcases what they’ve learned and created along the way. Join us as we uncover their unique perspectives and passions.
Claire Cannon
In this interview, MA Voice Pedagogy student Claire Cannon discusses her research exploring identity foreclosure and mental health in musicians.
Building on earlier work on burnout, Claire examines how strong musical identities formed in adolescence may shape musicians’ wellbeing and career experiences. In the conversation below, she shares her research findings and reflects on how they have influenced her teaching practice, with a growing emphasis on resilience and adaptability for singers.
Claire Cannon
Claire Cannon is a UK-based singer and vocal coach with over a decade of experience, working in further education with aspiring musical theatre performers while also coaching professional singers in her private studio.
Recent Posts
After The Session
After The Session: Games & Gadgets: Unlocking Vocal Skills Through Movement and Play🎤✨
Voice Study Centre
Tuesday 15th September 2026Vocal technique isn't just about standing still in front of a piano and doing scales - it's an interactive, whole-body experience! In a fantastic workshop hosted by the Voice Study Centre today, Naomi Lewandoski (Northside Voice Studio, Australia) led us through an engaging session on how physical movement, somatic awareness, and everyday "gadgets" can transform vocal training.
Read More...
Student Interviews
Could a Harmonica Have a Place in the Voice Studio?
Voice Study Centre
Tuesday 8th September 2026What does a harmonica have to do with the human voice? For harmonica performer and music educator Shima Melvin, this question became the starting point for her postgraduate research with the Voice Study Centre. While developing her approach to teaching harmonica, Shima found herself struggling to explain exactly what was happening inside the instrument when she played. The mechanics of the harmonica were, in a sense, invisible.
Read More...
After The Session
After The Session: Common Medical Diagnoses and Treatments in Voice Patients
Voice Study Centre
Friday 4th September 2026Voice care extends far beyond opera stars! A voice professional includes anyone whose livelihood depends on an effective and pleasing voice - teachers, solicitors, sports coaches, secretaries, and sales personnel. Yesterday, we welcomed back Dr. Robert Sataloff MD, DMA, FACS, for a short course into the diagnosis, medical care, and surgical management of voice patients. Robert is the Director of Otolaryngology at the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Voice, professional singer, and a conductor.. Read on for the key insights and takeaways every vocal professional, pedagogue, and performer should know!
Read More...