Complete Vocal Academy, 4-Month Intensive Course (full course description)

New groups beginning in Copenhagen February 9, 2009.

Complete Vocal Academy is aimed singers looking for an all-round and varied course that covers all aspects of singing. The Academy is open to all genres of music, singers of popular music as well as classical singers. The goal is for the participants to achieve a significantly higher level professionally and artistically on completion of the course.

The course will focus on optimizing the individual, personal work with singing technique as well as ensuring the artistic development for each participant. The objective is an intense and efficient course that will qualify the participants to apply their newly achieved skills immediately after completing the course.

Complete Vocal Academy offers tuition at many levels, for not so experienced as well as trained/ professional singers, for participants without knowledge about Complete Vocal Technique as well as participants who know the techniques beforehand. To ensure the best possible development, the course is organized in a way that allows the participants to choose the classes that fit their specific level and musical preferences, wishes, and further career plans.

While singers are often placed on different levels in the various subjects, all participants at Complete Vocal Academy are offered personal guidance to ensure that everone chooses classes of the appropriate level. The aim is for singers to be able to adjust the choice of level and subject during the course.

In order to avoid regimentation and destruction of distinctive artistic character, it is of great importance that the course be designed especially for each singer. The course will be conducted with great knowledge and love for the profession.

No academic requirements

Since artistic quality and technical skills do not depend on academic achievement, there are no requirements of that kind for acceptance to Complete Vocal Academy.

No upper age limit

Artistic quality is not restricted to a specific age group, and commercial applicability is not interesting in regard to artistic ability. For these reasons, Complete Vocal Institute does not enforce an upper age limit. All singers above age 18 holding the required artistic skills are welcome.

No subsidiary subjects

The course will include all aspects of singing: vocal technique, expression, interpretation, performance, improvisation, phrasing, intonation, swing, awareness and training of one’s own authority, singing with a band, singing with a choir, working with other singers etc. etc.

While the course aims at optimizing the individual participant’s technical and artistic level, all subsidiary subjects that are not directly related to singing are left out in favour of vocally and practically applicable subjects.

Components of the course

The participants’ personal vocal development and education.
Solving of the participants’ own, and common frequently occurring, vocal problems.
Acquisition of practically based theoretical knowledge.
Working practically with the vocal modes Neutral, Curbin, Overdrive, and Belting.
Training fast recognition of various vocal problems and the use of vocal techniques.
Studying of vocal problems and hoarseness, prevention and emergency aid
Various genres within choir music.
Musical and artistic approach to singing.
Compulsory training.
Practical singing technique with pianist.
Studying of various learning methods and belonging psychology, and their practical applicability.
Music business related issues and exchanging of experience.
Singing with a band.

Teaching on the course will primarily take place in groups. Furthermore, part of the course will consist of singers working toghether in groups on specific subjects. Participants will acquire depth knowledge of the learning methods and singing problems of the other participants. This will provide the participants with invaluable future knowledge of different methods, both learning and singing wise. It is a prerequisite for the well-being and free expression of each individual participant that the work take place in an atmosphere of openness and mutual trust.

Personal vocal development and education

The course will take the individual participants’ level of technique and singing as its starting point. In order to recognize and solve one’s own vocal problems, it is necessary to have thorough knowledge of one’s own voice. A major part of the course will deal with enhancing the technical and singing potential of each participant.

Solving of own, and common frequently occurring, vocal problems

The studying of singing concepts will include work with The Three Basic Principles, the 4 vocal modes (Neutral, Curbing, Overdrive and Belting) in singing and in speech, sound colour, and the use of effects. Identifying and solving different vocal problems will also be worked with. The participants are continually encouraged to consider what they wish to work on, how they wish to work on it, and what results they wish to achieve.

Acquisition of practically based theoretical knowledge
The schedule will include detailed study of the voice. The acquisition of theoretical knowledge will take place through individual study as well as through demonstrations. Theory will be consistently illustrated through the use of practical examples. One of the fundamental aims of the course is that all acquired theory be put to immediate practical use.

Working practically with the vocal modes
Optimizing each participant’s work with the vocal modes will take place in groups. Instruction will focus on the singers’ individual wishes for singing with different extents extends of metal added. There will be a non metallic class (optimizing the vocal mode Neutral), a half metallic class (optimizing the vocal mode Curbing), and a full metallic class (optimizing the vocal modes Overdrive and Belting). Work will include centre work, expansion of the vocal range within the vocal mode, working with vowels, recognition of volume and possible sound colours, applicability within various genres, as well as technical vocal reservations of the vocal mode, warnings and pitfalls.

Training fast recognition of various vocal problems and the use of vocal techniques - auditory anlysis

It is a prerequisite for the vocal education that participants are able to recognize the used vocal modes rapidly, performed live and on recordings. This will allow singers to more quickly achieve the desired sound and apply the correct methods to solve problems that may occur.

Studying of vocal problems and hoarseness, prevention and emergency aid

This part covers a thorough going through of various voice problems, and how to solve them. Included will be identifying and solving of hoarseness, nodules, irregular production of mucus, as well as preventive measures and emergency aid. The goal is to make it possible for the singers to prevent and remove troublesome constrictors themselves.

Various genres within choir music

The aim is to for the singers to achieve knowledge about different choir genres, as well as the to experience the great value of singing together with other singers and gain a social and musical network, contrasting the often very lonely work as a solo singer.

Musical and artistic approach to singing

The technical aspect of singing affect how the singer communicates. Thus, working with expression and performance is important. This subject also includes working with intonation, swing, improvisation and phrasing, awareness of own authority, status and means, and adjustment according to these.

Compulsory training

Hereby, the participants will get the possibility to explore and share their own and each others resources without a teacher present. Rehearsal groups are formed, in order to practice both theoretical and practical aspects. Furthermore, the participants can build a repertoire within the style desired, and they will also be encouraged to form musical vocal groups.

Practical singing technique with pianist

All aspects of singing will be assembled and tried out with a pianist. The singer will choose a song, and a subject to work with. Subjects to work on may include different aspects of singing technique, problem solution, expression, swing, improvisation, performance, technique etc. The subject will be held as a masterclass. Each singer will receive individual tuition working with a song, and parallels to the other participants’ work with singing will be drawn. All singers will participate in optimizing each singer.

Studying of various learning methods and belonging psychology, and their practical applicability

Working with various learning methods, in order to optimize speed of learning and how to utilize communication with a teacher. Also, going through the model of communication, learning types, muscular memory, parameters to determine notes, skill check, and working with the centre of the vocal modes.

Music business related issues and exchanging of experience
Various music business related issues will be treated, in order to prepare the participants to be able to navigate safely in both the artistic and the commercial parts of the business. The subject includes talk about ambitions, further career development and musical parameters as well as increased awareness of own authority and self-reliance. In addition to this, there will be discussions and exchanging of experience.

Singing with a band

The co-operation with musicians, including correct use of musical terminology will be treated according to the specific problems one might have building a joint musical expression. Approximately twice per month concerts will be arranged where the achieved skills of expression, performance and presentation can be tested.

The course

Emphasis will be put on the participants’ individual vocal work. Participants will study singing theory and methods in detail:

Breathing.
Support. Working with supporting muscles, understanding the very backbone of support, different sensations of support, support training, understanding the necessary energy needed, detailed study of using support.
Anatomical and physiological study of the vocal organs, the importance of having an open throat.
Detailed study of pronunciation and the importance hereof.
Opening of the mouth for different notes.
Principles for completing a note and for various attacks.
Study of different volumes and safe methods of producing them.
The Three Basic Principles.
Theoretical and practical study of range and types of voice.
Voice register, including vocal flageolet, flute register and solving unintentional vocal breaks.
Principles of intonation.
Study of the 4 vocal modes: Neutral, Curbing, Overdrive and Belting. This will include an introduction to the use of the vocal modes with regard to pitch, sound colour, volume and vowels. Transitions between the vocal modes will be studied, so the participants will ultimately have a complete overview of the vocal modes. Speech technique and vocal modes for different singing genres will also be covered.
The study of sound colour, including the importance of the vocal tract, the possibilities of the epiglottis funnel and adjustments of the larynx, the tongue, the mouth, the palate, and the nasal passage. Furthermore, various sounds will be combined in order for the participants to get a full overview of the possibilities of sound colour. Microphone technique will also be looked into.
A short introduction to the different effects the participants may possibly make use of. This study will primarily aim at a theoretical understanding and a practical use of the effects, for instance distortion (intentional hoarseness), growl, intentional vocal breaks, air added to the voice, screams, and creaks, vibrato and techniques for ornamentation (rapid run of notes). Also the use of the effects, with regard to pitch, sound colour, volume and vowels will be introduced. This study will deepen the theoretical understanding, as well as make the participants recognize and use the effects.
A thorough study of various voice problems and how to solve them, including topics such as identification, relieving of hoarseness, nodules, irregular production of mucus, as well as preventive measures and emergency aid.
Study of the principles of improvisation and phrasing.
Introduction to expression and performance.
Study of and work with swing.

Furthermore there will be a overall study and identification of various forms of utilization within music, including going through and solving the problems that can occur developing music, e.g. trouble hearing your own voice and the problems that may follow during singing, the difference between using the vocal modes acoustically, in a studio and for singing live.

Also, performance, audition training and appearance will be worked on. Awareness of your own skills and shortcomings, awareness of how this affects the artistic personal appearance.

Included will be an intense study integrating the various ways of working during the course. Focus will also be put on the individual participant's artistic resources and limitations. Each participant will be encouraged to find his/ her identity as a singer.

Study groups

All pariticipants will be urged to participate in different study groups during the full four months of the course. Working in groups may be a prerequisite for parts of the course.

Methods

Teaching during the course will be a combination of individual singing work, theoretical and practical training. There will be individual as well as group exercises. Working in groups will be oriented towards process as well as result, and theory will relate to the techniques and exercises worked on in the group. To create a secure atmosphere in the group, the participants appear both as singers and as audience.

Lectures, talks and debates

The working methods will include study and lectures on theory, as well as a practical testing of theory. Moreover, there will be talks and debates, including what the participants expect from the course.

Pianist

A pianist will be present for accompaniment during certain parts of the course.

Tests

The working method will include tests, self-assessment and skill tests to put emphasis on the participant's awareness of his or her singing skills.

Ongoing assessment

All topics and modules will be tested to assess the development of each individual participant as well as the course.

Auditive analysis

Auditive analysis of live and recorded singing. Under supervision, each participant will examine the used techniques, both live and recorded, in front of the group. Assessments will be carried out with the group.

Practical information

New course August 18, 2008 and February 9, 2009. The course will be held 4 days a week Monday to Thursday, typically from 10-16/17.

Course fee

DKK 36.500 (? 4870)

A deposit of 1/4 of the full course fee is to be paid within 2 weeks after your sign up. The deposit secures your place on the course. It is not refundable if you choose to withdraw from the course. Full course fee payment is due before the beginning of the course. Please read our standard terms.

Number of participants

Varies for each group.

Teachers

The teachers will be authorized Complete Vocal Technique teachers and they will teach in their specialist subject. Catherine Sadolin will teach one day in each group, and there will be a possibility for guest teachers as well. Only highly qualified and experienced teachers of the highest professional standard will teach at Complete Vocal Academy.

Place

Copenhagen, Complete Vocal Institute, Hausergade 3, 5.sal.

Application

Please fill out and submit the application form. Also, please e-mail us mp3-files or send us a CD with examples of your singing.

Contact information

Complete Vocal Institute, Hausergade 3, 5^th floor, DK-1128 Copenhagen K, Denmark.

Mail: cvi@shout.dk / Phone: +45 33 32 77 24 / Fax: + 45 33 32 77 25

General conditions for acceptance to the course

To qualify for the course, applicants must have some knowledge of the contents of Complete Vocal Technique book & CD. In order to ascertain the professional and artistic level of the applicant as well as his/ her ability to work within a group, the applicant must have attended a 1-day introductory course.

Deadline for application is NOW. The course will be filled up on a first come, first serve basis.