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Lynn Helding serves as Professor of Practice in Voice and Vocal Pedagogy at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music, where she also coordinates the Vocology & Voice Pedagogy program. She is a distinguished author, most notably of The Musician's Mind: Teaching, Learning and Performance in the Age of Brain Science, and was appointed Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Singing in 2023. With decades of experience as both a performer and pedagogue, Helding bridges the gap between voice science and artistic practice, advocating for cognitive science as the "Third Pillar of Voice Science" alongside physiology and acoustics.
Helding's educational background includes:
- Master's Degree in Vocal Pedagogy with Distinction from Westminster Choir College of Rider University (2005)
- Artist Diploma from Indiana University (1988), where she was the first singer ever accepted into this prestigious program
- Completion of the Summer Vocology Institute at the National Center for Voice and Speech
Helding's research focuses on the application of cognitive science to voice pedagogy, with particular emphasis on motor learning theory and expertise studies from social psychology. She pioneered the concept of cognitive science as the "Third Pillar of Voice Science," arguing that understanding the brain's role is essential for effective voice teaching. Her work challenges traditional approaches by emphasizing the "how" of teaching over the "what," advocating for science-informed (rather than science-based) pedagogy that respects both scientific findings and artistic tradition. Helding's research has significant implications for addressing performance anxiety, optimizing practice methods, and developing more effective teaching strategies that account for how musicians actually learn.
Her scholarly contributions demonstrate a consistent focus on bridging cognitive science with practical voice teaching. Rather than treating voice science as purely technical knowledge, Helding examines how this information can be effectively communicated to students, recognizing that the delivery method is as important as the content itself. This approach has led to innovative frameworks for evidence-based voice pedagogy that consider both physiological realities and cognitive processing limitations.
Helding's significant recognition includes:
- Lifetime Achievement Award from the Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) Vocal Pedagogy Institute at Shenandoah University (2020)
- Van L. Lawrence Fellowship, jointly awarded by the Voice Foundation and the National Association of Teachers of Singing Foundation (2005)
- Induction into the prestigious American Academy of Teachers of Singing (2022)
- Recognition as a "legendary figure in the field of voice pedagogy"
As an educator, Helding maintains a thriving studio with private clients including members of the Los Angeles Opera and Los Angeles Master Chorale. Her USC Thornton voice students have earned fellowships to prestigious programs including the Aspen and Tanglewood Music Festivals. She has presented masterclasses described as "life-altering" at major voice conferences throughout the United States, Europe, and Australia. Helding previously served twenty-two years as Associate Professor of Voice and Director of Performance Studies at Dickinson College, and four years as voice faculty at Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music.
Helding is actively involved with the USC Voice Center at Keck Medicine of USC as a team member, where she applies her vocology expertise to help singers with functional vocal issues and those recovering from voice surgery. She is a co-founder of the NATS Science-Informed Voice Pedagogy Institute and frequently collaborates with voice scientists and medical professionals to advance the field of vocology.
