Female Musical Theatre Belting in the 21st Century
Tuesday 1st April 2025, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
The female musical theatre belt sound originated on the Broadway stage in 1930, mostly associated with Ethel Merman and her vocal performance of the song “I Got Rhythm,” in the Gershwin musical, Girl Crazy. In the almost 100 years since the origin of the female musical theatre belt voice, the sound has become almost synonymous with Broadway itself, and has continued to develop and evolve, based on the storytelling needs of the musical theatre artform.
With this in mind, it is imperative that singers and teachers have up to date strategies and techniques to create this exciting vocal production.
This 2-hour short course will begin with a brief discussion of the history and theatrical purpose of the female belt sound. Then, various categories of the female belt sound will be explored and demonstrated, as well as different types of female belt vocal repertoire and roles. During the last portion of the course, vocal exercises to enhance belt voice ability and range will be explained and demonstrated. During this part of the course, participants will be encouraged to sing and personally experience these exercises to enhance their own vocal production and teaching strategies.
🏷️ 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. Christianne Roll
Dr. Christianne Roll received her BFA in musical theatre from New York University, where she was a Tisch Scholar. Her doctorate is from Teachers College, Columbia University, where she focused her research on musical theatre vocal pedagogy.
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 2nd June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Monday 9th June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Monday 16th June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Monday 23rd June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Monday 30th June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Certificate in Foundations of Vocology with Adam Roberts
Adam Roberts
This fifteen week (30-hour) Vocology Cohort Intensive provides a comprehensive overview of basic vocal anatomy, physiology, and theories of voice production & perception, fundamentals of vocal health, pathology, evaluation, performance, and habilitation of the speaking and singing voice, and a survey of research, resources, and professional opportunities.
Tuesday 17th June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
How to Hack Your Next Audition: The Limbic Response
Dr Katherine Skovira
We all know the feeling: staring down an audition panel, we lock up, our knees and hands shake, our breath stops, and we’re in emotional free fall. This is your limbic system going into hyperdrive. In the audition setting, when the limbic system or paleomammalian cortex kicks into action in the face of a perceived conflict, we experience the body’s answer to stressors from people and social interactions. In this course, Dr Katherine Skovira will walk you through steps to work with your limbic response and choose the most appropriate course of action to nail your next audition while honouring your internal mental and emotional landscape.
Wednesday 18th June 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)
Alternative Methods of Accent and Dialect coaching - and coaching Neurodiverse Actors
Ellen Hartley
Ellen Hartely has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company for over eight years - in this session she will explore how an accent coach can develop and deliver alternative (non-IPA) methods for coaching accents and dialects. There will be a particular focus on developing inclusive and accessible practice for all. Not all actors receive accent and dialect training in IPA, or indeed in any other specialist accent teaching method, others find IPA an unhelpful way to learn. Over a career you may need to find effective ways to coach any, and all, of the following: young people, amateur groups, a cast with mixed experience, professional actors with no formal training, or neurodivergent and learning-disabled actors.