22 March 2018

My dear Colleague,

Apropos our recent discussion about whether or how younger singing teachers can get themselves in a mind set to publish rather than perish, I found this yesterday. I think it was basically a summary of what I learned in my doctorate (was in dissertation writing phase at this point). Fairly certain this is heavily cribbed from things teachers said to me:

• Question dogma
• Accept that sometimes dogma is correct. 
• Read something every day. 
• Read more than you write. (Definitely came from Dr. Helen Greenwald)
• Don't hate the lie.
• Find the lie that brings the student to the truth. 
• Never start from scratch. (Also Dr. Greenwald)
• Others have already done much of your thinking for you. 
• An absence of ideas comes from an absence of information. (Dr. Greenwald)
• Out of ideas? Read more. (Dr. Greenwald)

Sincerely,

Dr. Ian Howell
Voice Faculty
Vocal Pedagogy Director
The New England Conservatory of Music
Boston