​  Presentation: Mindfulness of Singing Through Meditation Practice

 This presentation will discuss how the important meditational practice of “Mindfulness” can be directly applicable to teaching singing, and will   demonstrate the potential benefits of it to Applied Studio Teaching and Clinical Practice. It will briefly discuss its history and how its practice   can provide a heightened awareness of self; a beneficial tool for Applied Studio Teaching and Clinical Practice. From a scientific viewpoint, it   has been proven how the various meditation practices shed light on their resulting physiological and psychological benefits. Scientific data   states that meditation triggers physical and mental relaxation. Through use of the protocols of Mindfulness practices, and brain behavior   group  studies through meditation, participants have experienced various changes in brain wave patterns, which have altered their state of   mind. Consequently, the altered state of mind revealed a higher consciousness of the inner self. By becoming more in tune with one’s inner   self, a more balanced physiological state emerges in which the intertwine of the body and mind processes more intuitively the information   presented in the external environment. Tuning in to our own inner self through Mindfulness meditation will help us translate this concept into   a beneficial teaching tool when we present the practice to our students and patients. This can potentially guide our students and patients   through a diverse communicative process between teacher/clinic and student/patient, thereby connecting us with their present singing needs   in terms of how it relates to the whole-being.​

Carolina Botero, DMA​​

Born in Barranquilla, Colombia, Carolina studied piano and voice for over a decade and performed on numerous occasions for Amira De La Rosa Opera house in Barranquilla. She completed her undergraduate studies at Catholic University in Washington DC, her Master’s in Vocal Performance at University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX and her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance at University of Washington. Her performance repertoire from operas includes, La Calisto, Orphée et Eurydice, La Périchole, Dialogues of the Carmelites, L’Elisir d’amore, Die Zauberflöte, Don Pasquale, Le Nozze di Figaro, Die Fledermaus, Cosí fan tutte, Der Freischütz. Her performance repertoire from musicals includes, She Loves Me, Fiorello! and West Side Story. She has performed in Seattle, Tacoma, Washington DC, New York City and Houston. Additionally, while living in Houston, she performed for the Houston Grand Opera for several seasons. As a vocal performer she has received rave reviews from El Heraldo (Colombia), The Washington Post (DC), The Times Herald (NY), The Houston Chronicle and El Rumbo (TX). Carolina is an active performer in the operatic repertoire as well as the Spanish and Latin American repertoire.  She has performed for the Isla Foundation, Latino Chamber Music Festival and University Washington in Seattle, showcasing songs from diverse Spanish and Latin American composers. Carolina is multilingual speaking fluently in Italian, Spanish and English. Carolina has a passion for teaching operatic, CCM styles of music and loves to work with students of all ages. She currently teaches as an Independent Voice Studio in Frederick, MD and serves as Voice Faculty at the Peabody Preparatory Institute.

Financial Disclosure: Dr. Botero has no financial relationships to disclose. 

Non-Financial Disclosure: Dr. Botero has no non-financial relationships to disclose.