Short Courses & Events / Archive

Shifting Gears from Classical to Broadway: Making the Vocal Switch!

Wednesday 11th February 2026, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)

As stylistic demands in the vocal world continue to evolve, classical singers are increasingly expected to perform in genres such as Musical Theatre and Commercial Music (CM). Yet, for many classically trained singers, the transition from operatic technique to speech-based, microphone-amplified styles can present significant technical and artistic challenges.

This session—led by an internationally known pedagogue specializing in Musical Theatre and CM who herself performed professionaly in both opera and musical theatre —bridges these two vocal worlds to provide singers and teachers with practical, research-informed strategies for healthy, authentic crossover.  The presenter offers a multifaceted exploration of how the classical voice can be thoughtfully adapted to meet the stylistic and expressive demands of modern genres without sacrificing technical integrity.

Rather than viewing crossover as a departure from classical technique, this session reframes it as an expansion—an opportunity for singers to build stylistic fluency while maintaining healthy, efficient vocal production. Designed for both performers and pedagogues, the session provides actionable exercises, diagnostic tools, and teaching strategies for integrating crossover training into both private studios and academic settings.

The class will explore how resonance is shaped by the vocal tract and how conscious adjustments in the jaw, tongue, soft palate, and articulators can create the tonal colors and acoustic qualities demanded by different genres.

Additionally, participants will be introduced to vocal Stylisms and riffing patterns that enhance stylistic freedom, agility, and creativity. These elements encourage the development of expressive versatility—essential for adapting the classical instrument to contemporary musical styles.

Attendees will leave with greater confidence in guiding classically trained singers toward versatile, expressive, and genre-appropriate performance—equipped with the knowledge and resources to navigate today’s diverse and evolving vocal marketplace.

🏷️ 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

Edrie Means Weekly

Edrie Means Weekly, Co-Founder of the CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute, is an associate professor of voice and voice pedagogy at Shenandoah Conservatory and professor of voice at George Mason University.  A 2021 Van Lawrence Fellowship Awardee, and a recognized expert in training singers in all vocal styles. An active professional singer, Edrie has presented numerous papers, countless workshops and master classes at national and international conferences. 

CPD Course Logo

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.

In Conversation With… Amanda Flynn
Wednesday 10th June 2026
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)

In Conversation With… Amanda Flynn

Dr Amanda Flynn

Join us for the first event in our new public interview series exploring vocal health and sustainability in musical theatre performance. Free and open to all!

Learning together: group singing and choral pedagogy
Friday 12th June 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)

Learning together: group singing and choral pedagogy

Dr David Cane

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.