Joining the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) transformed Dr Kari Ragan’s career. Could it do the same for yours?

Dr Kari Ragan is a voice teacher, rehabilitation specialist and proud member of NATS. 

Over the years, she’s held several positions within the organisation and currently hosts NATS Chat, an online learning resource for teachers.

“NATS has given me so much,” Dr Ragan says. “It’s where I came out of the mindset of wanting to be a singer to wanting to be a teacher.”

Speaking on the Singing Teachers Talk podcast, Dr Ragan explained what NATS can offer singing teachers across the globe. Here’s what she had to say.

What is NATS?

NATS is the world’s largest professional association of singing teachers, with membership numbers nudging 8,000.

Members work in schools, colleges, universities and private studios in more than 35 countries, including Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Spain and Colombia.

What are the benefits of being a member of NATS?

Community

Being a member of NATS means you get the opportunity to network with peers and share knowledge and experiences.

“And isn’t that what we all long for, especially for the independent teacher who might feel like they work in a vacuum?” asks Dr Ragan.

It’s also a chance to make friends. “Some of my dearest friends have been made through the NATS organisation.”

Inspiration

NATS organises conferences, workshops, masterclasses and training. It’s often through these learning opportunities that singing teachers find their niche.

“Our conferences are really extraordinary. We get great keynote speakers, allowing you to delve into different genres and different areas of pedagogy.

“I was at a conference in Seattle, and Scott McCoy was one of the keynote speakers, and [hearing him] just changed my life. It made me realise that teaching voice had changed so much since my years at Indiana University.”

Improve your knowledge

NATS is home to a wealth of resources. These include the So You Want to Sing: Guides for Performers. There are 22 books in the series (all written by experts in their field) covering various genres, from cabaret and blues to musical theatre and chamber music. 

There’s also the NATS Chat online learning resource where you can access interviews and discussions with voice researchers and vocal coaches. 

If you’re wondering where to start with NATS Chat’s vast back catalogue, Dr Ragan recommends her discussion with voice pathologist Dr Marco Guzman about water bubbles for the voice. 

“As a singing rehabilitation specialist and voice teacher I utilise water bubbles for cool down, so I’m fascinated by SOVTs and what we know about them.”

Learn more

Listen to the full podcast interview with Dr Ragan, where she also discusses:

• How the singing teaching landscape has changed over the past four decades.
  
• The best way to deal with information overload and to find your own niche.
• What a true multidisciplinary voice team looks like today.