Voice

We believe there is a singer in almost everyone, and that most people who think otherwise have simply never been taught. The voice is an instrument like any other: it responds to technique, it improves with correct practice, and it can be damaged by bad habits.

Technique before repertoire

The first work is always physical. Breath and support, an open and unforced throat, resonance placed where it carries, and a range that extends without strain. Singers who skip this stage can sound good for a few years and then find they have built on nothing.

Once the technique is there, the repertoire opens up, and it can be anything. We teach classical, jazz, pop and rock, and there is no hierarchy between them. Each makes different demands and each teaches something the others do not.

What you will learn

• Breath and support: the foundation of everything else
• Resonance and placement: producing a sound that carries without pushing
• Range: extending it safely, and negotiating the passaggio
• Diction: being understood, in whichever language you are singing
• Musicianship: pitch, rhythm, phrasing and reading
• Performance: the skill of actually delivering it in front of people

For those considering it seriously

Students who want to make singing a career get the additional work that requires: repertoire building, audition preparation, microphone technique, and honest feedback about where they stand. Graded examinations are available through all four boards.