top of page

Syllabus Overview

Vocal Initial

Vocal

4-6 months

Goals

  • Introduction to singing : understand posture, warm-ups and voice builders.

  • Introduction to sheet music : Learn the basics and identify them in your course material.

  • Certification : Finish a certificate course, and take an exam with Trinity College London.
    For more details on the exam, visit Trinity College London's Vocal Page or the Trinity Rock & Pop Vocal Page

  • Performance : Prepare for competitions/stage performances/events based on your level of skill. When you're ready, record at the studio.

  • Social Playing : Learn techniques that you can use, on popular pieces/songs at this level, to sing along with friends, etc., at social events and gatherings.

Concepts Covered

Basics :​

  • Understanding the proper posture when singing.

  • Warm-ups

  • Voice builders.

​

Sheet music Basics :

  • The Staff

  • The Clef

  • Whole-notes, Half-notes, Quarter-notes, Eighth-notes and equivalent rests

  • Time-Signatures

​

Vocal Warm-ups ONE (8 exercises covering the following): ​

  • Breathing

  • Long tones.

  • Runs/Scales

  • Staccato exercises

  • Arpeggios

  • Articulation

  • Dynamic contrast

  • Range extension

​

Vocal Warm-ups TWO (6 exercises covering the following): ​

  • Warm-up slide

  • Descending fifth slide

  • Descending 5th Run

  • Pop/Rock Slide

  • Descending Arpeggios (Swing)

  • Octave Slides

​

Vocal Workout:

  • Rock Steps

  • Rock Syncopation

  • Minor Octave Scale

  • Latin Long Tones

  • Gospel Swing

  • Jazz Swing Scale

  • Latin Vocalise

​

Sight Reading (24 exercises) : 

  • C position for G-clef and F-clef.

  • 8 bar pieces with two 4 bar phrases just like in jazz.

​

Rhythm Reading (10 exercises) :

  • Whole-note, Half-note, Quarter-note, Eighth-note and equivalent rests.

  • Common Time-Signature.

  • 40 bar exercises.

  • Understand down-beat, off-beat.

  • Play to metronome.

  • Understanding sync.

​

Improvisation and Comping Technique (ONE):​

  • Rock Vocalise

  • Latin Octave Skips

  • Jazz Waltz

  • R&B Pop/Pentatonic Patterns

  • Jazz Ballad Etudes

​

Improvisation and Comping Technique (TWO) :

  • Two and Three Part Exercises

  • Two-part Pop/Rock

  • Two-part R&B/Pop

  • Two-part Funk

  • Three-part Country/Rock

  • Three-part Rock

  • Three-part Blues

​

Exam Syllabus*

  • Pieces

  • Exercises

  • Musical Knowledge

  • Scales

  • Arpeggios

bottom of page