Volunteer to Sing!
Thanks for signing up to go be a demo singer for the upcoming Pop Stylization Elective!
Please review the class dates, times, and class descriptions below. If there is one particular class topic that aligns with your performance needs, please indicate it in the application form. Otherwise, you can just choose to volunteer for the next available slot.
I will try to accommodate as many volunteer singers as possible, but unfortunately, I am not able to guarantee that everyone will be able to sing during class. Volunteer singers will be chosen based on how well they fit the class topic, in order to provide the best learning experience for everyone attending. Thanks in advance for understanding!
Week 1: Where Function Meets Style
Wednesday, September 16 at 6:30pm Pacific
Have you ever been given vague or abstract stylization directions and thought, okay, I get what you’re asking me to do, but how do I ~actually~ do that?!?
This week, we’ll talk about tactical tools that singers can use to achieve stylistic outcomes. We’re going to talk about how to turn vague notes and artistic direction into practical strategies. No vague or mysterious cues that make no practical sense. Just real tools rooted in vocal function, music fundamentals, and sound pedagogy.
Week 2: Working with Limitations
Wednesday, September 23 at 6:30pm Pacific
So your student has a performance this weekend and they need to sing this one pop song…except they can’t. At least not the way that the original singer sings it. What do we do?!
In this class, we’re going to talk about how to coach your students when limitations are in the way. Because sometimes, even the best tools just can’t get them to their desired outcome fast enough, or at all. In those situations, we need to be equipped to think both strategically and creatively. That way, we can show our students how to embrace (and even enjoy) their voices exactly as they are, without losing their confidence in the process or in their own potential. And there’s no better place to practice this approach to teaching than in pop!
Week 3: Making Style and Technique Feel Like Second Nature
Wednesday, September 30 at 6:30pm Pacific
The whole reason for vocal training, especially in pop music, is to equip singers to sing with freedom and creativity — not to turn them into perpetually anxious, homogenous, perfection-obsessed robots.
This is the class where we learn about how to play the long game. We’ll discuss concepts that help our students practice smarter, not harder. We’ll learn how to leverage the student’s creativity, curiosity, and sense of play during lessons, so that they have the skill and the confidence to explore and experiment on their own. We’ll talk about how to ensure that they are growing, vocally and artistically. Lastly, we’ll explore how pop music can be the perfect playground for helping singers to reconnect with their love for singing — the kind of love that got them started in the first place.
Preparing to sing during class
Please join the class using the Zoom app, not the web browser.
Prior to class, please ensure that you have enabled Original Sound for Musicians on Zoom. Click here for instructions for your device.
You may accompany yourself on an instrument, or you may use an accompaniment track. If using an accompaniment track, please play your track from a separate device, such as a second computer or a phone, in order to minimize audio issues.
To ensure minimal interruptions, please make sure your device is charged/plugged in, and that you are in a location with steady connection
Sheet music and lead sheets are not necessary, but you’re welcome to share them ahead of time by emailing them to me at lessons@reneemaranan.com.