The Gospel Choir Sound: A Practical Pedagogical Exploration
Tuesday 30th April 2024, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM (London Time)
'The Gospel Choir Sound: A Practical Pedagogical Exploration' is a course that is meant to help all types of singers and voices understand some of the essential methods behind the gospel choir sound in the African-American church and to hopefully have the ability to access and make use of these tactics and techniques in a tangible and efficient way.
In this course, we will discuss some of the basic terminology and history of the gospel choir in the African-American church while exploring basic pedagogical facets that can help clarify how gospel choirs sing. We will also explore how some words that are often used in the gospel choir setting can sound and be more familiar than you think. We will take a look at how these similar terms can help demystify the bridge of separation in terms of musical and vocal production between this genre and other genres.
Additionally, we will examine how these pedagogical facets are sometimes adjusted due to regional or aesthetic differences as well as define the different voice parts, the theoretical phonatory production of these parts/sections, and how these parts can slightly differ from the traditional system of voice classification.
..and, if time allows, we may even formulate a gospel choir during the course and learn a small portion of a song in the logistical and environmental settings that many gospel choirs typically learn music in.
Jaron M. LeGrair
Jaron M. LeGrair is a singer, voice researcher, voice teacher, music director, professor, educator, author, and entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur, he founded the Jaron M. LeGrair Studio, an international studio that specialises in providing voice training and goods for vocal health for singers and speakers.
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.
Tuesday 16th December 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)
Inspired Sound: Unlocking the Science of Choral Acoustics
Professor Helena Daffern
In this session, Professor Helena Daffern will explore the fascinating science behind choral sound, offering choir singers and directors valuable insights into achieving a cohesive and expressive ensemble, no matter what their standard. The concept of choral blend will be examined —what it is, how it can be cultivated, and the roles of intonation and vibrato will be analysed. The decisions that have to be made around intonation when tuning thirds or dealing with modulations over the course of an a cappella piece will be explained in the context of existing research and different singing styles such as barbershop singing and solo voice ensembles.
Tuesday 16th December 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Unclenching the Jaw: Options from the Physio Lens
Walt Fritz
“Jaw tension” is one of many potential problems facing the singer, and can cause a direct negative impact on the performance in both direct and indirect ways. The underlying cause of jaw issues is attributed to numerous factors (technique, posture, strength, range of motion, etc.), making it often difficult to identify common denominators. Join Walt Fritz as he examines the evidence supporting stretching, strengthening, and manual therapy interventions to address jaw-related concerns in vocal performers, taking into account their unique needs.
Thursday 18th December 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)
Improving Lyric Italian Diction for Classical Singers
Professor Conroy Cupido
Join Professor Conroy Cupido as he offers an in-depth exploration of the most frequent pronunciation errors made by classical singers in Italian lyric diction. Designed for both emerging and advanced singers, the course provides a structured and practical approach to mastering Italian pronunciation as used in opera, oratorio, and art song.