Comparative Vocal Styles: Classical, Belting, Pop, R&B, Country, Rock & Jazz
Tuesday 5th March 2024, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
Not only are there major differences between Classical and Commercial singing techniques, but there are also unique characteristics and variations required by singers to 'authenticate' commercial or pop vocal styles.
In this interactive workshop, participants will have the opportunity to experiment with some of the many elements which comprise different genres, including Classical, Musical Theatre Belting (including its five substyles), Pop, R&B (Soul), Country, Rock and Jazz.
These elements include resonator shaping; vibrato (type, speed, use); larynx height, phrasing (word stress, breath management requirements, dynamics); resonance (degrees of brightness, ring, and nasality); stylisms (e.g. cry, fry, growls, melisma, runs, scatting); vocal fold adduction (clean, blowy, three degrees of breathy); degree of hyoid bone pull; jaw strategies; and even cultural/emotional roots which are integral to understanding the history of each style.
As voice pedagogues, it is very helpful to have at our disposal a large number of 'vocal hacks', not just for vocal technique improvement but for stylistic accuracy as well. Often, a simple tweak in mouth shape can result in a noticeable improvement when producing an authentic sound. All pop is not the same!
Handouts with graphs will be provided for further review as well as a suggested listening list.
Lisa Popeil
Lisa Popeil, MFA in Voice, has studied voice for 60 years and has taught professionally in a variety of styles of singing for over 40 years. Based in Los Angeles, California, Lisa is the creator of the Voiceworks® Method, the Total Singer DVD and the Total Singer Workshop.
Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.
Learn MoreSorry, this is an archived short course...
We have plenty of upcoming short courses coming soon. See details of some of them below or look at the full list of short courses.
Monday 6th July 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Friday 10th July 2026
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Monday 13th July 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Friday 17th July 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Monday 20th July 2026
7:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Friday 24th July 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
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Adam Roberts
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Friday 24th July 2026
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
(London Time)
In Conversation With… Dr Tracy Bourne
Dr Tracy Bourne
Join us for the next conversation in our public interview series exploring vocal health and sustainability in musical theatre performance, this time with music theatre voice specialist, Dr Tracy Bourne! Free and open to all!
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5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
“Too Much, Too Little, Just Right!” - The Balancing Act Model
Robert Edwin
The Balancing Act Model encourages singers to explore the extremes of singing, and from those extremes, establish their most efficient (balanced) voice and performance techniques. Join the renowned singer/actor and author Robert Edwin as he covers many aspects of the singing process including breathing, phonation, resonation, articulation, and attitude. If you’re involved in music theater or opera, you’ll find the Model to be especially helpful in developing character voices for roles such as Nathan and Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. If you’re just looking to find out what your body and voice can do, The Balancing Act Model can provide many answers!