Small-Group Singing - Voice Lessons for Ages 9-10: Ongoing
What's included
1 live meeting
30 mins in-class hours per weekHomework
1 hour per week. Students will be encouraged to print out sheet music and practice the assigned song with the sing-along video posted to the classroom. They may also be given some vocal or breathing exercises that they may practice.Class Experience
These 30-minute small group introductory singing lessons with 2 to 6 students that meet once each week are designed to give young, beginning singers a look inside the world of voice training. Students will learn a little about correct breathing and support as it is the foundation for great singing. They will learn about diction, posture, chest & head voice, vowel shaping & creating space in the mouth, some simple musical terms, and how to follow simple sheet music. We may also discuss how to express the emotion and message of a song. Generally speaking, we will learn and work on a different song for 2 to 3 lessons. During common holidays, we may sing something in that holiday theme (always something secular and age-appropriate) such as a Halloween warm-up song or a Valentine themed song. Students may join this ongoing class at any time and will be able to jump into the song no matter when they join the class. The current song will be posted on the classroom page each week with sheet music and sing-along videos. We will use breathing and vocal exercises to warm up the voice at the beginning of class. No matter what part of a song we are working on, students will be able to join in and learn to sing the song. It will be taught and reviewed by rote - phrase by phrase and section by section. As we are learning a phrase or section, students will sing together with the teacher while their mics are muted, then they will take turns unmuting their microphones and singing individually on each section when they are ready to do so. Practicing the song during the week will reinforce what they have learned and will better prepare them for the next class. Lessons are tailored to the group and each student's unique abilities, gender, and preferences. Keep in mind that this is only an introduction to the voice training process. Students who are interested in traditional, progressive voice lessons, may enroll in private voice lessons which are more specifically designed around and tailored to each student and their abilities and progression. IMPORTANT: Students should know how to mute and unmute their microphones and be able to take turns singing and listening to other students in the class. Students are strongly encouraged to print out the sheet music that will be uploaded on the classroom page and to practice with sing-along videos that are provided via a link. Beginning students this age do not need to spend any more than a few minutes a day just a few days of each week vocalizing & practicing their song. My priority as a voice teacher is to instill confidence and a love of singing, maintain the health of their voices, and help them prepare to move into more intensive vocal lessons as they mature. *NOTE* The pace of this class is set according to the abilities and pace of the students and how far we make it into the song each lesson. Sometimes students may struggle with some of the phrases of music and need extra time with it. Therefore, we may work on some songs for more than 2 weeks. No matter when a student joins the class, they will be able to jump right into the song wherever we are in the schedule. The current song will be posted on the classroom page. These are the songs that should be covered in the two-month period. SONGS FOR SEP. & OCT- (Please check the classroom page for the current song) Week of September 26th- "Somewhere Out There" Week of October 3rd- "Somewhere Out There" Week of October 10th - "Somewhere Out There" Week of October 17th - "Do Re Mi" from The Sound of Music Week of October 24th - "Do Re Mi" from The Sound of Music List of songs that may be used in the coming months: You And Me, I See the Light, Edelweiss, Castle On a Cloud, Colors of the Wind, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, On My Way, Under the Sea, Best Day of My Life, Hard Knock Life, A Million Dreams, The Rainbow Connection, For the First Time In Forever, You Gotta Have Heart, Tomorrow, What A Wonderful World, High Hopes, I Got No Strings, Count On Me, Do Re Mi, Here Comes the Sun, Hakuna Matata, Supercalifrajilisticexpialidocious, and more.
Learning Goals
Students will improve & build their vocal range, intonation (ability to sing on pitch), breath support, diction, and most importantly, confidence. Students will learn how to express the music through their faces and bodies. They'll learn just a little bit about healthy vocal production and vocal care because they are essential to the singer.
Other Details
Supply List
Students will be encouraged to print out the sheet music. PDF copies of sheet music will be posted in the classroom as well as links to YouTube video sing-alongs or an mp3 (audio version) of the song. Those can be opened from the classroom page by clicking on the link, so students can easily practice without having to open any other app or website. Having a strong wifi signal is important for singing on Zoom. If the teacher cannot hear the student or the feed keeps cutting out, it will be difficult to assess how the student is doing. Also, please keep in mind that Chromebooks do not work well for Zoom singing classes. They do not have enough processing power to keep up with audio and video. They also cut out the singer's audio on the higher pitches. It's best to try and use a laptop computer or desktop PC if that's available. Although it's not the best choice, an iPad could also work.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
I will post links to the YouTube video sing-alongs to help them learn the song they are working on.
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in Theatre Arts from Austin Peay State University
Amanda Giese has been a professional singer, actress, and teacher of all ages for over 30 years. She has many professional theater and performing credits including the lead singer, "Miss Lilly", in the Golden Horseshoe Show at Disneyland. She has recorded a Christmas album and has performed in many concert venues and showrooms in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Orlando.
As Founder and Director of "Stagekiz!" and "Youth Theater at the J", she directed many Jr Broadway shows including "Beauty and the Beast", "Seussical the Musical", "Aladdin", "High School Musical" and many more. She also coaches and consults with middle and high school thespian troupes, and has adjudicated and presented vocal performance workshops at Florida District Festivals and State Thespian Festivals.
Amanda holds a Bachelor's Degree in Theater and Vocal Performance and has been a private voice teacher and performance coach for over 20 years.
Reviews
Live Group Class
$15
weekly1x per week
30 min
Completed by 3 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-10
2-6 learners per class