Money Notes for Days: Sustainable Singing for Popular Styles
Thursday 28th March 2024, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
It’s a fact that most university training for singers is in the acoustic, Western classical genres. It’s also a fact that most clients and students of independent voice instructors want training in popular styles and contemporary music theatre. The obvious outcome of this disconnect is that most voice teachers and coaches are ill-equipped to meet the needs of their clients.
Understanding how to be an effective coach for singers of popular musics requires more than just a few handy exercises. Being an effective coach means understanding why you’re not a teacher, what your client’s assumptions are around the coaching process, and which tools they need to navigate the world of amplified music.
Your brain sings before you do. It also turns sound waves into hearing. When voice coaches know how to work with the way people are 'wired', they can stop guessing, and feel empowered in their abilities to help their clients.
In this workshop, you’ll begin to train your ears to what you’ve been missing in popular styles. We’ll identify the 'it' factor, and learn how it can be the magic to sustainable high, rock 'belt'; the sound singers of contemporary music theatre, R&B, indie, rock and jazz, and your singer-songwriters nearly all want to achieve.
We’re going to look at two concepts, both the 'why' and the 'how'. You’ll also find out about a single word you may be using that could be holding your students back! You’ll get to watch your own brain in action, and you’ll leave with powerful tools to apply to your teaching.
Meredith Colby
Author, teacher, coach and speaker Meredith Colby is the author of Money Notes: How to Sing High, Loud, Healthy, and Forever, and the creator of Neuro-Vocal, an approach to singing for popular styles based on neuroscience.
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.
Thursday 26th June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday 1st July 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
The Contemporary Classical Singer: Incorporating New Music into Vocal Pedagogy!
Page Stephens
There are evolving expectations for vocalists, who now need to perform in a variety of styles beyond traditional classical music. In this two-part course, Page Stephens argues that voice teachers should incorporate contemporary repertoire and techniques into their lessons to help singers grow in expressivity, flexibility, and economic opportunities. The course will cover industry trends, cultural pressures, and economic benefits of contemporary music, and provide tools for integrating new music into vocal education. Interviews with professionals will highlight the strengths and weaknesses observed in the field, and strategies for teaching new music will be discussed.
Wednesday 2nd July 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)
The identity politics of accent learning!
Jenru Wang
Jenru Wang has an MFA in Voice Studies with distinction from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London - in this session, he will begin to explore the complexities accent coaches might face in their work, examining the intersection of language, identity, and cultural sensitivity. Participants will explore how to navigate challenging situations in different contexts and understand what to do—and avoid—when working with diverse clients and materials.