Each lesson includes “activity time,” in which students hear songs and chants in a variety of meters and tonalities and practice echoing fundamental musical patterns, moving with flow and rhythm, singing resting tones, and improvising with their voice (just as we do in piano lessons). All of this prepares us to sing with excellent rhythm and tuning. We also do structured improvisations of increasing complexity to build musicianship. We practice correct and healthy posture, breathing, and body position to reduce tension and sing with freedom. We spend time “warming up” the voice, which helps us to develop good vocal technique by repeating similar exercises at different vocal ranges. We also learn performance songs, which may be chosen by me or by the student.

Practice at home will include listening assignments, warm-ups (patterned exercises across the vocal range to improve strength, flexibility and technique), and repertoire practice (songs).