Vocal (Levels I-IV)
VOCAL COURSE SUMMARY (Levels I-IV)
Learning to sing is fantastic fun and personally very rewarding, but can also seem a daunting task. With our experienced and supportive teaching staff we can help you achieve that goal in a relaxed and stimulating class environment!
The classes only take a couple of hours per week, and you have to put in some practice between sessions, but as the courses are structured and organized you’ll be amazed at the progress you can make!
Each level contains a perfect balance between technique, theory and the building of practical skills and repertoire, all delivered in a supportive and encouraging environment. Simply put, this is the most enjoyable way to learn to sing and meet like-minded people!
GENERAL COURSE DETAILS
| Course Name: | Core Skills (Vocals) |
| Commencement: |
Level 1 - 9th October 2008 |
| Duration: | 2 hours/week for 10 weeks, part-time |
| Class Times: |
Level 1 - Thursdays 7-9pm |
| Cost: | £299 |
| Entry Req: |
No assessment/audition is required. Following discussion with staff, students are allocated to one of three levels of class depending on experience and ability |
|
Term Structure: |
06/10, 13/10, 20/10, 27/10, 03/11, (Break Week), 17/11, 24/11, 01/12, 08/12, 15/12 |
VOCAL COURSE OUTLINES:
VOCALS 1
The focus of the class is always on the practical, so you will build up skills by singing real songs and repertoire by artists you will know. You will spend lots of time singing within the class environment, enabling you to build confidence both as a group and individually.
Finally, in week ten of the course we provide an Institute ‘House Band’ so that everyone can get their first taste of singing in front of a real band, all within an encouraging and supportive environment!
LEVEL I COURSE OUTLINE
- Introduction to relaxation and breathing techniques
- Identifying the correct posture and support
- Basic warm-up routines to help understand the voice
- Basic microphone technique and stage technique
- Sing and perform a repertoire supporting the techniques covered on the course
VOCALS 2
Have you a basic understanding of warm ups and control, can sing a limited repertoire, but maybe lack confidence to go beyond that? On this course you will build more confidence and start to understand some basic music theory, whilst further working on your vocal technique, improving posture and control, aural skills and the basics of singing in harmony.The course is built around fun and engaging musical examples, so you acquire the skills through learning to sing a wide range of material.
Again, one unit of the course is an LPW (Live Performance Workshop), where we provide a student backing band for the class to workshop a song and have the opportunity to apply some of the material studied!
LEVEL II CONTENT OUTLINE
- Relaxation and breathing techniques
- Developing warm-up routines - improving tone placement and support, dynamic control, pitching and articulation
- Introduction to aural skills
- Introduction to ensemble singing
- Developing microphone technique and stage technique
- Sing and perform a repertoire supporting the techniques covered on the course
VOCALS 3
Do you have a good grasp of the fundamental vocal techniques but feel that your knowledge and repertoire need developing? Vocals III is designed to take the solid fundamental skills learnt in the previous levels and further develop your confidence, skill and knowledge.
You will study more complex vocal techniques, warm-ups, exercises and ensemble pieces, which are all again supported by real musical examples making the classes fun and rewarding.
As in the other courses, one week will be an informal Live Performance Workshop with an Institute house band, but in addition we introduce two specialist style units into the course. This gives you the opportunity to start investigating a musical genre in greater depth, and learning about the specific techniques and delivery associated with some of the most common genres of popular music.
LEVEL III COURSE OUTLINE
- Dynamic relaxation and breathing techniques
- Intermediate warm-up and practice routines focusing on vocal registers, tone placement, pitching, intonation and articulation, dynamic control and support
- Ensemble singing – understand the importance of blending the group voice and the role of the backing singer
- Further developing the singers aural skills
- Developing microphone and stage technique – Building confidence and dealing with stage fright
- Stylistic classes on ‘Pop’ and ‘Rock’.
- Sing and perform a repertoire supporting the techniques covered on the course
VOCALS 4
This course is for the intermediate vocalist who can sing with confidence, but is maybe lacking in technical knowledge. It is designed to continue to build solid technical skills, develop some music theory and continue to build vocal strength and stamina.
Your studies will include more advanced warm ups, including lips and jaw, gaining further control of the voice and its placement. Again, all topics are supported by real musical examples making the classes fun and rewarding.
As in the other courses, one week will be an informal Live Performance Workshop with an Institute house band. In this course you will also spend one unit investigating a specific style and another on creative song writing, looking at how to write melodies and create memorable backing vocal arrangements.
LEVEL IV COURSE OUTLINE
- Develop more advanced warm-up and practice routines
- Explore more advanced vocal technique such as flexibility (licks, runs and trills) and further develop minor and major scale exercises
- Stage techniques – Exploring expression and interpretation of lyrics and songs
- Ensemble singing - Explore the role of the backing vocalist – blend, timing, pitch and intonation
- Maintaining vocal health
- Further develop aural skills
- Specialist classes on ‘Soul’ and ‘Creative Songwriting’.
- Sing and perform a repertoire supporting the techniques covered on the course
