Short Courses & Events / Archive

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.

🏷️ Price £30 (UK VAT inclusive)
🎥 Recording automatically sent to all who book (even if you cannot attend live)
▶️ Rewatch as many times as you like
📜 Certificate of attendance available

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.

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Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.

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Sorry, 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.

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Friday 12th June 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)

Learning together: group singing and choral pedagogy

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The benefits of group singing are well documented and well known. Singing together can foster a sense of social connection and community as well enhancing wellbeing and mood.  However, group singing is not only a shared cultural and artistic experience, but can also be a powerful site of learning. While many of the developments in voice pedagogy have tended to centre around the one-to-one model of teaching, this course with Dr David Cane explores the pedagogical (and potentially the political) potential of teaching and learning to sing collectively.

Introduction to Postgraduate Academic Skills - Summer Bootcamp - Join Live!
Monday 15th June 2026
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Tuesday 16th June 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Wednesday 17th June 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Thursday 18th June 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Friday 19th June 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
(London Time)

Introduction to Postgraduate Academic Skills - Summer Bootcamp - Join Live!

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Hosted by our very own Director of Studies (Debbie Winter), join our comprehensive Introduction to Academic Skills course, designed to equip you with essential tools and strategies for success in higher education. Perfect for bridging the gap between undergraduate and postgraduate study, this course offers a pathway to our full MA for students without an existing degree. We offer both live, interactive sessions and standalone, pre-recorded content.

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Thursday 18th June 2026
9:00 PM - 11:00 PM
(London Time)

Body wisdom for vocal performers and educators: What the heart and lungs can teach us about sustainable and joyful vocal practice!

Dr Mark Seton

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