Matt Asti – From Voice Pedagogy to Transformational Leadership

We’re thrilled to celebrate Matt Asti, a 2023 graduate of our MA Voice Pedagogy, whose inspiring journey has led him into doctoral study and exciting interdisciplinary work across music, yoga, and wellness education.

Continuing the Journey: From MA to Ed.D.

Since completing the MA, Matt has gone on to pursue a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Transformational Leadership at Moravian University, where he also teaches as adjunct faculty in music. His doctoral research now focuses on yoga and wellness in education, a natural evolution from the curiosity and learning approach instilled during his time at the Voice Study Centre.

“Voice Study Centre's MA instilled in me a love of learning, particularly through action research” Matt shares. “I began feeling that I wanted to take these skills into other aspects of my life apart from music and began putting all my efforts into researching yoga and its role in education.”

Matt’s Ed.D. research involves launching four post-graduate courses and documenting participant experiences. Two of these courses are designed for yoga teacher training, while the other two support K-12 educators through yoga, mindfulness, and wellness.

Action Research in Action

In other news, this spring Matt will be presenting his MA thesis at the Action Research Network of the Americas (ARNA) conference, an organisation that supports collaborative research across the Americas.

His thesis, an exploration into polyphonic singing (the ability to sing multiple notes at once), followed an action research methodology with four co-learners. With very little research to guide them, the group embarked on a collaborative journey, learning and teaching simultaneously. The project embodies the participatory nature of action research—a perfect fit for ARNA’s 2025 conference theme, which focuses on the use of the arts in participatory research. Reflecting on the process, Matt says: “Because we had no idea what would happen while trying to learn/teach this practice, their insights as participants were paramount to the thesis. Action research in action!”

Expanding Into Wellness

In addition to his academic work, Matt has continued developing professionally in complementary wellness fields:

• He started training with the YogaLife Institute to become a yoga therapist and is set to graduate this August.
• He is also studying to become a licensed massage therapist at the Academy of Massage Therapy & Bodyworks.

It was wonderful to catch up with Matt and hear what he’s been up to since finishing the MA. From voice pedagogy to yoga and wellness, he’s taken his learning in exciting new directions. We’re really proud to have been part of his journey and can’t wait to see what he does next.

Congratulations, Matt!