Learn to sing in a supportive environment, along with friends!
The Voice is the instrument given to each of us by God. We all can learn to be confident singers if we have an encouraging introduction to singing at an early age.
What We Will Study
- Musicianship: Pitch-matching, tone production, phrasing, ear-training, singing melodies and rounds, and harmonization
- Vocal Technique: Anatomy, breathing, and healthy vocal production
- Reading Music: Solfège (Do-Re-Mi’s), Western staff notation (🎼♫), and Byzantine notation (used in some Orthodox parishes)
How We Will Learn
- Music-learning should be fun and encouraging, so the class will be taught with a lively emphasis on games, activities, and group interaction.
- In addition to a textbook and workbook, we will use audio resources and movement activities to develop a true love of singing.
What to Expect
- We believe that every student is musical, and it is the teacher’s job to unlock that potential. This requires the teacher to use multiple teaching approaches (visual, auditory, and kinesthetic), tailor each lesson to fit student ages and personalities, and use analogies (relating concepts to the students’ personal interests).
- We teach emotional calm, and focus on joy. Mistakes are part of music-making. We strive to make music beautiful, and learn to accept our mistakes calmly and without focusing on them. Rather than be embarrassed by our musical mistakes, or turn them into logismoi, we learn to use them as diagnostic tools to make our music better.
- We place equal emphasis on both music-reading and ear-training, to create life-long musicians.
- The Parent is a vital part of the teaching team. The parent provides a music-rich, nurturing environment, ensures the availability of proper equipment, plays the music CDs or audio files for the child daily, and leads and encourages the child’s practice.
Prerequisites
- No singing experience is required.
- If the student has not already completed one of the SAA Music Theory courses, which teach how music works, it is acceptable to take one alongside this class. The SAA Music Theory courses are Music Explorers (K-1), Music Detectives (2-3), Music Fluency (4-5), and Music Horizons (4-5-6). These classes are designed to make the Voice Class easier, and enable your student to learn faster.
Textbooks
- FULL VOICE Student Workbook – Intro Level (author: Nikki Loney)
- Suzuki Voice School, Vol. 1: International Edition (author: Suzuki Voice School)
You may choose either audio CD or MP3 to go along with the Suzuki book. It is necessary to have both the book and the audio.- Option 1: Book & audio CD: combo pack
- Option 2: Book & MP3 (purchase each separately, need both):
- Book (no audio included)
- Downloadable MP3, choose supplier: Amazon or iTunes or Alfred Media
Only enrolled students can view materials.
