Short Courses & Events / Archive

Jazz Pedagogy - through the vocalist's lens!

Friday 23rd January 2026, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM (London Time)

Jazz pedagogy, when viewed through the lens of the vocalist, offers a unique and vital perspective on the development of both technical skills and musical expression.

For vocalists, jazz singing involves more than just mastering the fundamentals of melody and harmony; it encompasses the ability to navigate improvisation, phrasing, and vocal technique in a genre that values creativity and spontaneity. One key aspect of jazz pedagogy for vocalists is understanding the importance of vocal phrasing, which is often informed by the rhythmic and harmonic patterns established by instrumentalists. In this context, the vocalist’s ability to "speak" through their voice, mimicking the improvisational language of the jazz ensemble, is crucial. This short course will focus on the voice in speech quality phrasing in a very conversational way.

Additionally, jazz vocalists must develop a deep understanding of jazz standards, often interpreting them in a way that reflects their own personal style while honouring the tradition of the genre. This balance between tradition and innovation is central to jazz pedagogy for vocalists, as it encourages students to explore their unique vocal identity while still respecting the foundational elements of jazz music. The study of scat singing, for instance, is another important pedagogical component. This technique not only enhances the vocalist's improvisational skills but also facilitates a deeper connection to the music's inherent rhythms and phrasing. We will discuss the important synergy between the singer and the pianist and how to develop that as a band leader in the jazz trio context.

🏷️ 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

Claire Martin OBE

Claire Martin OBE has established herself as a tour de force on the UK jazz scene, gaining many awards including winning the British Jazz Awards eight times during her career which spans over three decades. In 2018, she was the proud recipient of the BASCA Gold Badge Award for her contribution to jazz.

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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.

Music Theory Fundamentals for Voice Pedagogues
Tuesday 5th May 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 12th May 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 19th May 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 26th May 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 2nd June 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 9th June 2026
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)

Music Theory Fundamentals for Voice Pedagogues

Dr David Cane

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 and this course aims to empower voice teachers and coaches with skills to support the fundamental musicianship development of their students.

Embodied voice research: negotiating the ‘inner’ and outer’
Thursday 7th May 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)

Embodied voice research: negotiating the ‘inner’ and outer’

Marth Munro

The central thrust of the session will be around the employment of Donald Schön’s concept of ‘reflection-in-action’ and ‘reflection-on-action’ to contextualise the potential interface between the inner and the outer in embodied voice research.

Prosody in conversation – crucial for effective communication?
Tuesday 12th May 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)

Prosody in conversation – crucial for effective communication?

Beatrice Szczepek Reed

In this course, we will take an introductory look at what prosody is and consider its functions in natural everyday dialogue. Prosody refers to the rhythm, stress, and intonation of speech. It's the musicality of language that helps convey meaning, emotion, and emphasis in conversation!