Voice
Taking lessons at CHSMA is much more than just a weekly lesson with your instructor! We offer many other learning and performing experiences throughout the year.
Workshops & Master Classes
During the year, our Voice Division schedules workshops on specific subjects to enhance and expand student understanding and growth. Clinicians from our own faculty and from local colleges or the professional music community visit and give students input on their playing or on special voice-related topics. Events often include:
- Master classes where local performers and teachers listen to our students sing and offer them supportive and encouraging input.
- Special presentations on styles, historical musical periods and various composers or genres.
- Concerts by faculty or area singers to expose the students and families to the joy of hearing live music of different styles and genres.
Becoming a good singer isn’t just about technique. We also train our singers to act the meaning of the song, to become comfortable onstage, to work with a live accompanist and to polish their performance.
Group Classes
- Music Theory for Singers is a new class this year, which covers reading music, understanding rhythm and applying it to your songs in a way that makes sense to singers.
- Acting Classes (short-term) are held to support musical theater and opera training.
- Studio Performance Classes are offered to our students three or more times during the year, in which students perform for their teacher and each other in a supportive, encouraging atmosphere. Students learn the basics of performing practices, are exposed to more musical repertoire and enjoy interacting with other students.
Performing Opportunities
Some students love to perform and others don’t. We gently encourage our students to participate in one or more of our performing events and help prepare them well so that it is a fun and positive experience.
- Studio Recitals: we host formal recitals for our students at a space with a grand piano: once in November and once in late May/early June.
- Broadway in Concert is a wonderful musical theatre performance opportunity offered in both the fall and the spring. Students sing and act the music of a Broadway musical without the staging to help them master singing a full role and to expose them to more musical theatre repertoire.
- Seasonal Performances: we have a Holiday Concert in December each year at a local venue and occasionally also have a Summer Concert.
- Community Performances: We love doing special community performances at various venues for our singers and often focus on a certain genre to expand performing growth. We have showcased contemporary vocal music, musical theatre songs, classical and jazz.
