What is a Teaching Artist?

Teaching Artists are everywhere now! Even 5-10 years ago, it wasn't a term that was thrown around as often; although the work has been happening forever. But what is it? What does a teaching artist even do?

I was first introduced to the concept in grad school when we were assigned Eric Booth's incredible book The Music Teaching Artists Bible: Becoming A Virtuoso Educator. I'll admit the term alone sounded like some pro musician would blow into the room, brag about the [underwhelming] venues they've played, say "You are the future!", and see themselves out. So I couldn't imagine how it could take up an entire book. It was clear on the first page that I was dealing with something much more powerful than that.

A teaching artist is any professional artist who brings people - classrooms or audiences - into the work that they are doing. It gives the listener more investment in the sounds you are making and helps them understand the art behind the entertainment we provide. Simply put, being a teaching artist is a vocation, a commitment or a calling, to make sure the future of our art is passed along. The difference is we don't follow the same rulebook of a classroom teacher, which is its own vocation that deserves far more of our respect than it ever receives.

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There are a myriad of ways we do this but ultimately, it's not as hard as it sounds. However, it requires a lot of vulnerability from the artist. If you're a performer, chances are you love to talk about your work and what you do. Not to brag, that's different. But to discuss your work, the research, the artistry, the craft. I mean, what researcher doesn't like to talk about their research? But the behind-the-scenes look can feel exposing and like giving your secrets out.

Let's say I'm singing a Donizetti aria and I want my audience to enjoy the nuances of the bel canto style. A great way to do that is to show them the cadenza that's inevitably at the end of the aria; taking them through the context, how it's written on the page, what I might change or interpolate to make it more impactful and stylistic. Uh oh, I've lifted the veil on my magic act. By walking them through step-by-step how I sing the hardest part of the 5-minute song, at the bitter end - high notes and all - I've tuned their ears into everything that can go right.... and wrong.

As revealing as that can feel, it's incredible what the listeners are experiencing. The energy that you feel from them, when it's done right, is one of gratitude. Everyone wants to understand what they love to experience. Maybe this process opens us up to making more mistakes. It's ok because the audience is also more forgiving. That aside, they're also invested in the performer's success now that they know what went into getting it there in the first place.