Courtney Crouse, DM
Professor of Voice
Music
Music - Voice
Biography
Dr. Courtney Crouse has been trained by the world famous soprano Carol Vaness and one of America’s leading vocal pedagogues, Paul Kiesgen. She is a professor of Voice at Oklahoma City University, teaching there since 2012. She was an assistant instructor of Voice at America’s largest operatic training ground, Indiana University, and has taught private lessons throughout the United States for more than 20 years.
Teaching Philosophy
This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.
—George Bernard Shaw
My goal as a teacher: to inspire students to love their voices, to work toward kind self-awareness, a healthy mind, healthy habits, discipline, and courage. It is a privilege to teach in the arts, to teach music; it is a pursuit that combines language, culture, historical perspective, body awareness, theater, acting, understanding human nature, discovering how your mind works, and committing to celebrating your strengths while committing to the lifelong pursuit of learning and growth.
The core components of my teaching are:
- Crafting a positive internal dialogue to combat our brain’s protective mechanism, negativity bias, the natural inclination to prepare for the worst result.
- Process driven practice and performance over result or outcome driven work.
- Detailed body mapping and specific understanding of the elements of singing we can control.
- Encouraging the development of a personal vocal toolbox with compartments full of science, imagery, physicality, quotes, and inspiration; anything that helps the singer self-diagnose and problem solve various vocal issues from vowel modification to posture, breathing to resonance, vocal resets to body mapping.
At the end of collegiate study, students will have gained tools and strategies that help them trust their training, and know that they have the technical, mental, and physical tools for a successful and happy life in the arts, wherever that road leads them.
My happy life in the arts comes from continuing to grow and learn from my students. They are gifts that help me become a better teacher and mentor. I look forward to seeing how my philosophy develops throughout my life.
