Developing Interdisciplinary Competency in Voice Performance: A Phenomenological Study of Higher Education in China.

Abstract

This phenomenological study investigates the experiences and perceptions of interdisciplinary competencies for voice performance in higher education in China through semistructured interviews with four vocal education experts. Participants were selected via selective sampling based on their teaching experience, theoretical research, location, and professional development contributions. Coding and thematic analyses identify key interdisciplinary domains crucial for voice performers. Physiological and anatomical principles, informed by life sciences, are fundamental for vocal health and technique. Incorporating historical and cultural knowledge enriches performers' interpretive depth and emotional expression. Digital technologies further modernize vocal training and prepare students for contemporary performance environments. The findings illuminate that Chinese interdisciplinary competency in vocal performance has unique characteristics, emphasizing cultural literacy and the fusion of Italian bel canto with Chinese Indigenous vocalization methods, but it has its limitations. This study contributes to the global discourse on higher education voice performance studies by presenting the lived experiences of Chinese voice professors in higher education, which can inspire and inform educational initiatives worldwide.