Online Certificated Courses > Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy

Music Theory Fundamentals for Voice Pedagogues

Voice pedagogy has advanced significantly in the last decades in relation to knowledge of the vocal apparatus (anatomy and mechanics), acoustics, and performance psychology (to name just a few subfields) – this is a wonderful thing! Nonetheless, musicianship and the foundations of music theory are still relevant to the teaching and coaching of singers (regardless of genre) and can often be a neglected part of a voice pedagogue’s toolkit (there is, admittedly, so much else to digest). This course aims to empower voice teachers and coaches with skills to support the musicianship development of their students.

Live and Interactive Learning!

5th, 12th, 19th, 26th May and 2nd, 9th June 2026

2:00 - 4:00 pm BST

Join us for live sessions that blend taught content, discussion work, and evaluation. All sessions will be recorded, allowing catch-up at a later time.

This course will enable you to understand and gain confidence in teaching core musicianship skills and music theory concepts up to Ofqual Level 2 (ABRSM, Trinity, MTB Grade 5). 

Upon completion of the course, you will receive an official ITOL-accredited certificate, a badge for your website/social media and a profile on our student page.

Course cost: £350

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Overview

Welcome to Voice Study Centre’s Voice Professional Certificated course. We offer a series of micro-credentials to develop learning, teaching and boost your CV. This is one of them!

Tutor: Dr David Cane

Voice pedagogy has evolved dramatically over recent decades, with major advances in our understanding of the vocal apparatus (anatomy and mechanics), acoustics, performance psychology, and beyond. This progress is something to celebrate. Yet, amid this expanding body of knowledge, musicianship and the fundamentals of music theory remain vital to the effective teaching and coaching of singers across all genres—and they can sometimes be overlooked, simply because there is so much else to absorb. This course is designed to address that gap, empowering voice teachers and coaches with practical skills to actively support and strengthen their students’ musicianship development.
  

This course will enable you to understand and gain confidence in teaching core musicianship skills and music theory concepts up to Ofqual Level 2* (ABRSM, Trinity, MTB Grade 5).

(* The course is not Ofqual regulated)

Session Times and Dates

Dates:

  • Tuesday 5th May
  • Tuesday 12th May
  • Monday 19th May
  • Tuesday 26th May
  • Tuesday 2nd June
  • Monday 9th June

Time: 2:00 - 4:00 pm BST

Place: Online (all sessions are recorded if you cannot attend live)

Regional Times for all sessions

  • BST (British Summer Time): 2:00 - 4:00 pm
  • EDT (Eastern Daylight Time): 9:00 - 11:00 am
  • CDT (Central Daylight Time): 8:00 - 10:00 am
  • PDT (Pacific Daylight Time): 6:00 - 8:00 am
  • CEST (Central European Summer Time): 3:00 - 5:00 pm
  • IST (Indian Standard Time): 6:30 - 7:30 pm
  • JST (Japan Standard Time): 10:00 pm - 0:00 am
  • AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time): 0:00 - 2:00 am

Syllabus

Registrants will have access to our online virtual learning environment (Canvas) where additional resources and access to previous session recordings will be available.

Session 1: Rudiments of music notation

Content to include:

  • The stave, treble and bass clefs
  • Pitch naming
  • Note values and rests
  • Dots, ties, and beams
  • Introduction to time signatures
Session 2: Introduction to scales, keys and intervals

Content to include:

  • The major scale and introduction to key signatures
  • Circle of fifths
  • Introduction to intervals
  • Degrees of the scale
  • Triads
Session 3 : Beyond the major scale

Content to include:

  • Minor scales (natural, harmonic and melodic)
  • Interval quality
  • Identifying chords
Session 4: ‘I got rhythm’

Content to include:

  • Compound and complex/irregular time signatures
  • Triplets / duplets / quadruplets / quintuplets
  • Syncopation / polyrhythms
Session 5: Foundations of harmony

Content to include:

  • Triads and harmonic function
  • Introduction to roman numeral notation
  • Introduction to lead sheet notation
  • Cadences
Session 6: Additional pieces

Content to include:

  • Extended chords
  • Chromaticism
  • Modes
  • Pentatonic and blues scales

Assessment

 

  • Online music theory assignment (submitted via our virtual learning environment)
  • 500-word (max) self-reflection on own practice

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Interested?

If you would like to learn more about the course please complete the form below or email us at info@voicestudycentre.com

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