Congruent Ideologies of the Bel Canto Pedagogues
Wednesday 15th October 2025, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (London Time)
Garcia II wrote in his introduction to A Complete Treatise on the Art of Singing, “Voices in their natural states are nearly always unpolished, unequal, unsteady, even tremulous, and, finally, heavy and of short range; only study, but a well-informed and persistent study, can make firm the intonation, purify the timbres, perfect the intensity and the elasticity of the tone.” In the same era, G.B. Lamperti lamented, “It is a pity that young singers, who are studying voice, immediately sing songs and arias, literally before they know how to open their mouths, instead of earnestly studying the real support of the voice (the mechanism of breath) in order to develop the voice and to make it smooth and flexible.”
One could readily assume through these similar statements that Manuel Garcia II and G.B. Lamperti were most often in agreement regarding vocal pedagogy and instruction. A short study of the two influential pedagogues, however, quickly reveals major disparities between these two schools of Bel Canto pedagogy. In spite of their passionate disagreements, the pedagogues of this era share the fundamental techniques and methodologies necessary to master the repertoire of the Bel Canto era properly. This presentation and discussion highlights the qualities held in common between the major pedagogues of the era, including elements of alignment, inspiration, vowel purity, legato, and pedagogic progression from exercises to repertoire.
🏷️ 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
Dr John Seesholtz
Dr. John Seesholtz, baritone, is the cofounder of the Canciones project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of Latin American music throughout all stages of academia and former Director of Vocal Pedagogy at the University of Colorado.
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.
Wednesday 4th March 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday 11th March 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday 18th March 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday 25th March 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday 1st April 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday 8th April 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
(London Time)
Learn to Coach RP and SSBE – a Certificate in Accent Coaching
Louisa Morgan
This six-week course is an opportunity to learn about both Received Pronunciation and Standard Southern British English. Rather than a course in learning how to speak RP/SSBE (there are many brilliant available courses for this already), this course is about learning how to coach it.
Wednesday 18th March 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Facilitating Jaw Release Through Improved Habits of Stance and Alignment
Ruth Williams Hennessy
Are you a singer or speaker struggling with stubborn jaw tension that just won't quit? Even with elite training, the "stuck" jaw is often a symptom of a surprising culprit: your feet! Join Ruth Hennessy in this interactive workshop where she bridges the gap between podiatry and phonation, moving beyond "temporary fixes" to address the physical misalignments that bottleneck your performance.
Wednesday 25th March 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Mastering the Art of "Marking": Vocal Longevity for the Modern Singer
Jacob Wright
Don’t just save your voice—optimize it! Join Jacob Wright as he explores marking technique in singing, a vocal conservation strategy used by singers during rehearsals and extended performance periods. Marking involves singing at reduced vocal intensity, altered pitch, or modified vocal quality to preserve vocal health while maintaining musical and dramatic engagement. Participants will gain practical tools for implementing marking in their own practice, teaching, or clinical work, supported by current research and voice science principles!