Meet Jennifer White of Mount Juliet

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer White.

Hi Jennifer, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I’ve always loved music and singing. My formal music education started with piano lessons at age 5. My constant singing annoyed my younger sister (and probably my parents). I sang in the choir at school and church and sang my first solo at church at age 15. It was terrifying but also so exciting; I was hooked. I continued singing contemporary commercial-style music for several years, then became interested in opera. I had a lot of experience with classical piano music, musicals, and choral music but hadn’t had much exposure to opera. I watched an opera on video and was captivated by the powerful and beautiful sounds of the human voice, the drama, and the immersive experience. I was determined to learn how to do that with my voice. This led to getting 3 degrees in vocal music and pursuing a career as a professional singer. Along the way, I taught that teaching others to be able to use their voices to impact audiences was just as rewarding as performing.

After working as a singing teacher and singer for over a decade, I returned to school. I graduated with my Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology this spring. Now, in addition to helping singers use their voices, I can also help people with voice disorders.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As with anything in life, the road to singing and teaching has had plenty of obstacles. My biggest struggle was with myself. Artists don’t suddenly become; and they develop over time and experience. I am impatient–I want to know everything now and be great at it yesterday. I have always been good at academics, but experiential learning requires patience and flexibility. I had to learn how to do rather than just how to understand. This is part of what makes me a good teacher, but it was a hard-won skill.

Besides struggles with myself, life as a working musician is challenging. I often worked multiple jobs to make a living and struggled to make time for my art.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I help people who want to improve their singing voices, both the novice and the experienced. I love teaching healthy singing habits to those who have gotten into bad ones. My teaching style is informed by years of education, research, and experiential knowledge of performing. I use principles of motor learning and sports psychology to inform my teaching. I am proud of my students who continually take the risk to try new things in practice and performance and gain courage each time they do it.

What matters most to you?
I want to impact people’s lives through music and the human voice. Inspiring, equipping, and affecting people through my teaching and singing are very important to me. The connection we can create when we sing is deep and meaningful. It is why we include it in so many of our most important rituals worldwide. I want my students and audiences to experience that connection.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jenwhitevoice.com

Image Credits
(first photo only) Kelly Kruse Photography