Learn to Sing - II



Overview

This is a practical course for singers at any level. Whilst basic singing technique will be discussed and repertoire explored, the major part of the course will be workshops for student singers - working on both technique and interpretation.

This practical class will concentrate on the fundamentals of vocal technique, practice techniques and interpretation. In terms of technique, we will work on developing good breath control and natural placement of the voice through the use of vocal exercises

The practice techniques covered will include choosing repertoire; selecting breathing points and practising phrasing; identifying and resolving technical problems; interpretative issues; programme construction and the development of musical memory. The emphasis of this part of the course will be to give students the knowledge and experience to make the best use of their practice time.

Programme details

Course begins: 24th April 2023

Please note: there will be no class on the 1st, 8th and 29th May due to the public bank holidays.

Week 1: Breathing - phrasing

Week 2: Repertoire Workshop

Week 3: 5-point plan for practice

Week 4: Repertoire workshop

Week 5: Classification of Songs

Week 6: Repertoire Workshop

Week 7: Repertoire in different styles

Week 8: Repertoire Workshop

Week 9: Aria Analysis

Week 10: Repertoire Workshop

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 £260.00
Take this course for CATs points £10.00

Tutor

Miss 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 give students the ability to prepare a piece of vocal music for performance from the initial choice of the piece through the technical preparation to the final interpretation.

Course Objectives

1. To give a basic understanding of vocal technique.

2. To enable a more informed selection of repertoire.

3. To raise awareness of issues regarding interpretation.

Teaching methods

A mixture of lecture and workshop. The tutor will outline each technical topic with live vocal demonstrations and then students will have the opportunity to try the techniques described. Repertoire will be demonstrated either by the use of audio tracks, video/dvd or with live performance. Students will also sing short pieces or extracts from pieces to the class and work on these with the tutor. 

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to:

1. know how to take and support a breath correctly;

2. work effectively on improving their vocal timbre;

3. use the techniques they have learnt to prepare new repertoire.

Assessment methods

Assessment will be through completion of a formative piece of work and an assessed performance. Since this class is for all standards of singer, the assessment of performance will be very much based upon progress during the course rather than the student's absolute standard and, particularly, upon the degree to which they have absorbed the practice techniques studied during the course.

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 application form.

Level and demands

Some knowledge and experience of singing  prior to the course (such as completion of Discover Your Voice or Learn to Sing - I) would be helpful.

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.

Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS)

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support