We believe in constantly reviewing, upgrading and improving our service here at VIDLA, and have been working hard to develop new courses and bring added value to existing ones. From January 2012, you will see quite a few changes and additions to our provision, an outline of which is given below. We hope you like these new options, which we believe will give you greater choices and better training than ever before. Our new-look website and full prospectus are currently in production and will be with you in time for the new academic year, starting on January 9th. Here’s a glimpse of the new provision:
Distance Learning:
Courses can be started on any weekday other than Public Holidays, and can be completed in full from home. All students are assigned to an experienced Personal Tutor / Academic Advisor for the duration of their courses. Teaching skills are assessed in person by a senior lecturer, towards the end of each course. All courses are accredited.
Foundation Certificate in Contemporary Vocal Teaching. NEW!
4 months, 15 credits – introduction to vocal teaching. 5 x GCSEs (or equivalent) at Grade C or above required, plus some performing experience. Applicants must be 17 or older.
Higher Certificate in Contemporary Vocal Teaching. NEW!
6 months, 18 credits – for those starting out as vocal coaches, but wanting a little more depth than the Foundation Certificate. This course replaces the old-style Certificate in Contemporary Vocal Teaching. 5 x GCSEs at Grade C or above (or equivalent) required, plus some performing experience. Applicants should be 18 or over.
Higher Certificate in Contemporary Vocal Teaching (Children & Adolescents) NEW!
6 months, 18 credits. The same great foundation course in teaching, but geared specifically towards those age 18 or over who wish to teach children and adolescents. 5 x GCSEs (or equivalent) at Grade C or above required, plus some performing experience or previous experience in working with children.
Diploma: Running a Contemporary Choir. NEW!
10 months, 24 credits. A start-to-finish guide in setting up and running a successful contemporary choir. Applicants will be expected to have Level 3 training at Grade B / Merit or over, in a relevant field, or equivalent non-UK qualifications. Strong musical ability required. Available from Spring 2012. Applicants lacking the necessary qualifications can apply via the “Challenge Process’, demonstrating their experience and competence. Age 18 or over.
Diploma in Contemporary Vocal Teaching
10 months, 24 credits. One of our most popular courses. Applicants will be expected to have Level 3 training at Grade B / Merit or over, or equivalent non-UK qualifications. Applicants lacking the necessary qualifications can apply via the “Challenge Process’, demonstrating their experience and competence. Age 18 or over.
Professional Diploma In Contemporary Vocal Teaching
15 months, 36 credits. Strong academic skills & performing experience required.
Advanced Professional Diploma in Contemporary Vocal Teaching
20 months, 48 credits. Excellent academic background and extensive performing experience required.
In addition to these great courses, we also offer an Associate Diploma and a Professional Diploma in Contemporary Vocals (these courses contain no teaching practise elements), allowing the student to study a range of vocal techniques, methods and pedagogies.
Skype & Online Courses
We offer a range of fabulous short courses working one-to-one with internationally-acclaimed tutors. More courses are being developed all the time.
Skype is an incredibly powerful teaching tool, very easy to use, and allows students to connect with extraordinary teachers worldwide. Regardless of where you are, if you have a broadband connection, you can work with our international practitioners, face to face, without having to leave your home!
Finding Your Real Voice with Dena Murray
8 weeks, 8 one-to-one lessons with Master Vocal Coach Dena Murray, leading to Teacher Certification in her well-established method.
Dena is based in California, and is the author of three best-selling books in vocal technique. With a BSc in Voice and Speech, 12 years as curriculum developer at the world-famous Musicians’ Institute in California, and having made the journey ‘from opera to pop’ as a vocalist, Dena is considered a Master Vocal Coach. Her empathetic approach has been highly praised by all who have studied with her. Suitable for beginners or those with a lot more experience, as Dena will tailor the course to suit your needs.
Toning for Singing with Hilary Canto
For those who would like to explore the voice from a natural / instinctive perspective, this fascinating 12-week foundation course takes the student on a journey through the effect of sound on the mind and body. Hilary is a highly-qualified sound healer and nutritionist, and has a passion for helping people to discover the natural power within their voices. The course is suitable for people who have never sung, but would like to develop confidence in the sound that they make, and equally for experienced vocal coaches who would like to explore the voice in a whole new way. Students often describe this course as “life changing”. An intermediate / follow-on course in currently in development.
Ultimate Vocals (Key Concepts) with Ria Keen
Ria is the founder and Principal / CEO of VIDLA. This 6-week course offers you the opportunity to work one-to-one with an inspirational teacher whose techniques produce great results, fast! The course is an introduction to the Key Concepts of the Ultimate Vocals approach, and is suitable for everyone from complete beginners to highly experienced teachers. Ria believes in ‘training smart’ – and her Key Concepts course will give you access to a range of techniques that will continue to work throughout your career, and which grow with you.
Workshops & Residential Courses
There is no substitute for working face-to-face with great teachers, and so in 2012 we are planning a range of one-day workshops and short training intensives in a range of subjects:
Robert Lunte of the Vocalist Studio, Seattle, will be visiting the UK in the Spring of 2012. Don’t miss his incredible “Training Vocal Athletes” Masterclass in London, in collaboration with VIDLA. There will also be limited opportunities to train one-to-one with Robert while he is here.
Register your interest by emailing us on tvs@vidla.org
Hilary Canto will be offering a workshop in her “Toning for Singing” approach in the Spring. A wonderful opportunity to explore the natural voice with the lady herself! This is guaranteed to be a experience which strengthens your vocal platform, and changes your perception about the making of sound, and its effects on the mind, body and soul!
Register your interest by emailing hilary.canto@vidla.org, or by visiting her Toning for Singing page on Facebook.
We are also talking with our wonderful UK Patron Steve Balsamo about a Masterclass in overtone singing, in which he is an expert. Steve is also hoping to develop an online course with us, exploring sound healing. Watch this space!
In the meanwhile, you can purchase his beautiful overtoning CD “Harmonic Healer” here.
We will be inviting applications for The Steve Balsamo Scholarship from January. The scholarship covers course and book fees for one of our Certificate or Diploma courses, and is an extraordinary opportunity to study with VIDLA for free! Simply subscribe to this blog (top right) to be kept up to date with the application procedure.
The newest VIDLA Team Member is Ash Rutter, who specialises in overcoming confidence / anxiety / nervousness issues in singers, and whose ability to create a positive mindset in people is a huge gift.
Ash is currently working on his wonderful new programme “Stage Fright to Superstar” which will be available in course form, working with Ash himself, or as a series of downloads. The programme will be available from Spring 2012, and looks set to become an invaluable resource for singers and teachers alike.
Register your interest by emailing us on ash.rutter@vidla.org
As if that wasn’t enough, we are also putting into pace a range of residential teacher-training courses and singing workshops for the coming year, in particular:
Teaching Children & Teenagers with James Gregory
Supercharge Your Teaching with Ria Keen (and an extended team)!
West End Workshops with some of our amazing friends from the world of West End performance!
Phew! Well, there’s more, but you can only take in so much information at once, yes? If you are interested in any of our courses or other training opportunities, please email us using any of the email addresses given above, or on info@vidla.org.
Alumni, Ash Rutter, courses, Dena Murray, Distance Learning Courses, Hilary Canto, James Gregory, One-To-One Training, Ria Keen, Robert Lunte, Short Home-Study Courses, Steve Balsamo, The Vocalist Studio
courses, dena murray, distance learning, extreme singing, hilary canto, natural health, online training, performing arts, ria keen, rock vocals, singers, singing, singing lessons, singing teacher, skype courses, sound healing, teacher certification, teacher training, VIDLA, VIDLA Workshops, vocal coach, vocal coaching, vocal health, vocal workshops
We like our people to have industry experience, and Cordelia (also know as Givvi) is an experienced vocalist and highly-qualified vocal coach, holding both a BA and two VIDLA qualifications.
