Courses

Introductory lab for singers to further develop listening skills, reading notation, concepts of rhythm, intervals, chord changes, time-feels, and grooves applied to singing lyrics and pitches simultaneously; sight-reading will include lead sheets, sheet music, and specific vocal arrangements.

The Efficient Practice Lab for Vocalists will teach efficient and mindful practice techniques in order to maximize the outcome of your practice sessions and lessons.

This class focuses on the Alexander Technique, holistic breathing for singing, and developing awareness of tension and ease in singing technique. The Alexander Technique can help vocalists develop more awareness and find more ease in practice and performance. Students also examine how the principles of the Alexander Technique can aid in the reduction of performance anxiety.

This lab is designed to increase body awareness and develop the stage presence and performance skills of vocalists through the use of acting techniques. Improvisational acting methods will be utilized in song performances.

A lab for non-voice principals designed to address the basic elements of singing: breath management, intonation, tone quality, and phrasing. Students will participate in periodic self-assessment, including videotaping of in-class performance.

A continuation of ILVC-111. Additional concentration on singing lyrics on chord tones, seventh chords, minor chords, and modes in different time-feels and grooves.

This course provides singers with the opportunity to gain mastery of the knowledge and skills they learn in their core music classes. Students put their theory knowledge into practice with melodic and rhythmic patterns using solfege, piano, and music notation.

In this course, students acquire the essential piano skills to self-accompany while singing. Students are encouraged to perform tunes from all genres for peer review, analyzing the most common voicings for each style and choosing what is genre-appropriate. Students evaluate key signatures to find which key works best for a given song, transposing and arranging a tune to highlight vocals, as well as adding intros, interludes, and codas. They also strategize about practicing and performing more difficult genres, such as R&B, which involve potentially complicated bass lines and rhythmic figures. Students examine tempos and how they affect a given song. Students also learn about stage performance and posture; practicing how to avoid looking at the keys; pedal use; optimum microphone position; and avoiding tension in the neck and shoulders or vocal strain during performance or practice.

A lab for vocalists providing an overview of small-format sound-reinforcement equipment currently used in live performance. Topics will include microphones, mixing consoles, amplifiers, loudspeakers, equalization, effects, monitors, and communicating effectively with a sound technician. Additionally, amplification techniques for rhythm section instruments will be addressed. Some class performance is included to help demonstrate usage of equipment. 

This course teaches vocalists how to use the microphone as an extension of their voice, enhancing their vocal sound, technique and performance ability by combining technical microphone knowledge with practical microphone skills. Students will learn how to choose the right microphone for their voice and personal style, gain an understanding of the technical language needed to communicate effectively with sound engineers, and learn the different kinds of microphone techniques for singing onstage, in the studio, and across different musical genres. While the first half of the course will cover theoretical topics, students will use their mics throughout the course.