Too many musicians leave music school burned out, unempowered and disconnected from their love of music. As educators, we have the power and the responsibility to break this cycle. This free masterclass series is designed to help music educators cultivate safer, more inclusive learning environments by examining their role in preventing harm, encouraging student self-advocacy, and fostering artistic freedom.

Who is this Masterclass for?

🎵 Music educators who want to create more compassionate, student-centered learning spaces

🎵 Teachers who recognize the need for change in music education and want actionable strategies

🎵 Anyone committed to harm reduction, inclusivity, and trauma-informed teaching practices

Why we do this work:

Because music education should nurture students, not break them. Too many musicians carry trauma from their training—perfectionism, self-doubt, burnout—into their careers and personal lives. By addressing the ways music education can unintentionally cause harm, we can help students self-advocate, set boundaries, and develop a healthier relationship with music for the long term.

Masterclass Topics:

July 12: Cultivating a Safe and Supportive Learning Environment

• Creating a space where students feel safe to take artistic risks

• Challenging internalized and externalized ableism and fatphobia

• Combating perfectionism and comparison in the classroom

• Using morally neutral language to foster growth

July 19: The Role of Ego in Teaching: From Authority to Ally

• Recognizing and releasing ego to better serve students

• Identifying how ego might unintentionally impact our teaching methods

• Avoiding projection: letting students define their own artistic paths

• Encouraging students to set boundaries and self-advocate

July 26: Compassionate Communication & Repairing Harm

• Giving feedback in a way that empowers, not discourages

• Repairing harm when we unintentionally hurt a student’s feelings

• Understanding how trauma might impact a student’s performance

• Setting and maintaining healthy boundaries with students

About Your Instructor:

Mary Kray holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and a Master of Music in Opera Performance. She is a trauma-informed certified coach, professional musician, and experienced voice teacher dedicated to making artistic spaces more inclusive and compassionate.