Research

Breathe in for nothing — an interpretative phenomenological analysis exploring the influence of a Pilates warm-up in singers.

MMus, Stellenbosch University — awarded cum laude, 2019.

This thesis examined how the Pilates method can benefit singers in particular, and musicians more generally. Grounded in interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), it explored the lived experience of classical singers who used a Pilates-based warm-up as part of their preparation to sing.

Publication

An overview of the thesis has been published in the Post-ip journal — read it at proa.ua.pt.

How it informs my teaching

The research began an ongoing interest in the benefits of the Pilates method for singers and musicians, and it shapes how I work today. You can see it in practice in my Pilates for Singers programmes and in the workshops I run for individuals, conservatoires and music institutions.