Musical Theatre: Learn how to sing

This series of workshops, specially designed for Music Meléti, is a gateway to Musical Theatre and how to prepare to sing in it. Here we will cover all the technical aspects – musical, vocal, and expressive – that a singing actor, or acting singer, must acquire to be an effective performer in this demanding activity.

We will explore the physical control that is necessary – with lots of exercises, many of which are fun, some of which are necessarily dull and repetitive, and we will also discuss the demands that are placed on us. The course can be used as a basis for all that is required in this exciting and challenging career.

Briefly, the workshops will cover:

1. Introduction: A brief introduction to Musical Theatre (MT) singing, covering posture and breath; exploring how we produce and vary the sound, negotiate the register changes, what vibrato adds, and the connection between body, soul, and mind; how we articulate text, what we do differently in speech and song; the impact accents can have, and what defines ‘artistry’ – all to create an effective performer.
2. Posture: Looking at how our body aligns, from head to toe, and how this enables a voice to flow smoothly and naturally.
3. Breath: The respiratory process is what keeps us alive; it also provides the ‘fuel’ for communication and vocalizing.
4. The singing body: A voice is a body, mind, and soul. Unhelpful tensions must be addressed and replaced with necessary tensions to allow a free, expressive voice.
5. Larynx: This valve is crucial to our physical safety and also the source of our sound.
6. Onsets/offsets: Why and how the way we begin a sound is vital to expression, clarity, and vocal health
7. Registers/Qualities: being an imperfect instrument (as are all instruments) our voices need to be ‘managed’ with specific technical control and awareness
8. Vibrato: Vibrato is what gives a voice individuality, character, and expression; each voice has a unique vibrato
9. Styles: Musical Theatre is an incredibly demanding style, incorporating opera to R & P.
10. Text: How we make our text clear, why it needs to be clear, and how singing in different languages or accents impacts on
11. Artistry: The ‘icing or cherry on the cake’; how we use all of the above to express and communicate expressively and effectively
12. Conclusion: Workshops 2-10 give us the tools/ingredients; 1 and 11 are the glue that binds them together; including vocal health and discussion about how to achieve the best results. Learning to sing in MT is not easy or quick, but this will be a very thorough process.

With this Musical Theatre workshop, music aspirants will discover and learn various methods to build a strong base for a charismatic personality in this industry, all from one-to-one live sessions in their homes.

If you would like to work with others in a supportive, friendly, and enjoyable environment on the skills that enable us to become singing actors (maybe dancing, singing actors!), then this series of workshops will give an insight into these skills, with many helpful tips and exercises to help build the tools required.

Bryan Husband