This course is designed for anyone who would like to sing, but feels that they can't. Through a mixture of seminars and workshops, consideration will be given to various common vocal problems. We will also examine basic vocal techniques, such as the correct method for breathing and breath-control, that will help to provide solutions to those problems. Exercises, which will be practised in class, will be given to reinforce the techniques and ensure that each student has the opportunity for individual assistance from the tutor.
Discover Your Voice
This is an In-person course which requires your attendance to the weekly meetings which take place in Oxford.
Overview
Programme details
Course starts: 25 Sept 2023
Week 1: The ideal voice, and what can go wrong
Week 2: Breathing - how to take it and use it
Week 3: Breathing - the open and relaxed throat
Week 4: Making a sound - how to start the voice
Week 5: Vocal Workshop - trying it all out
Week 6: Resonance - working with vowels
Week 7: Diction - adding consonants smoothly
Week 8: Widening the vocal range
Week 9: Singing with expression
Week 10: Putting it all together
Recommended reading
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Continuing Education Library for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are welcome to use the Library for reference. More information can be found on the Library website.
There is a Guide for Weekly Class students which will give you further information.
Availability of titles on the reading list (below) can be checked on SOLO, the library catalogue.
Preparatory reading
- Yehudi Menuhin Music Guides: Voice / Ed. Falkner, Keith
Certification
Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.
To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.
Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard.
Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from the January 1st after the current full academic year has been completed. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course Fee | £280.00 |
| Take this course for CATS points | £10.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Tutor
Claire-Louise Lucas
Claire-Louise Lucas is a professional mezzo-soprano and a part-time music tutor. She lectures on opera and song for Oxford University Department for Continuing Education. She has lectured on singing in conservatoires and other universities in the UK and the USA.
Claire-Louise has performed extensively throughout Britain, Europe and the USA, including an appearance as a soloist in the Salzburg Easter Festival with Maurizio Pollini and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Claudio Abbado. Other recent performances include concerts at Gloucester Cathedral; Christ Church Cathedral; Salisbury Cathedral; Southampton University; the Leominster Festival and the Brighton Festival.
Course aims
To outline the different problems that can affect the voice, and to give an understanding of the techniques which produce a well-supported tone and promote good vocal health.
Course objectives:
- Demonstrate the correct way to take and use the breath.
- Explain the importance of a relaxed, open throat and vocal tract.
- To show the correct formation of vowels and consonants whilst maintaining good resonance.
Teaching methods
The course will be mainly illustrated by live demonstations from the tutor, but will consist of some audio and video extracts, mostly co-ordinated by computer. All visual illustrations, including scores, opera texts, video and DVD extracts will be projected on to a large screen. Audio recordings will be played through high quality hi-fi. There will also be groupwork undertaken by the students in each session.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students will be expected to:
- explain the main principles of good vocal technique;
- identify the main faults that can hinder vocal production;
- demonstrate a knowledge of the basic vocal techniques that remedy the main faults.
Assessment methods
The students taking this course for credit will be asked to write a course journal.
Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form - Declaration of Authorship form
Application
To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.
Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form (Word) or enrolment form (Pdf).
Level and demands
Most of the Department's weekly classes have 10 or 20 CATS points assigned to them. 10 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of ten 2-hour sessions. 20 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of twenty 2-hour sessions. It is expected that, for every 2 hours of tuition you are given, you will engage in eight hours of private study.