The Glasshouse

Tuition in a range of vocal styles, led by an experienced team of tutors

In addition to their individual instrumental lesson and music language tuition, all vocal students rehearse weekly in a large ensemble class, splitting off to study duets, trios and quartets with their fellow students. They also take part in a weekly performance class where they work on their repertoire, which gives everyone a wonderful opportunity to contextualise songs in depth and learn how to take the music from the page to the concert hall. Students are encouraged to sing in a variety of styles, including classical, folk, jazz, pop and musical theatre. Most students enter for Associated Board music exams up to diploma level, or, when appropriate, Trinity Musical Theatre and Pop exams and London College of Music Pop exams.

Most singers take a second study instrument (usually piano) and we strongly recommend this.

Students also participate in an enormous variety of extension activities during the year including masterclasses with artists such as Lynn Dawson (Head of Vocal Studies at RNCM); German baritone Benjamin Appl; Deborah York (Grammy Award winning soprano); and jazz singers Sylwia Bialas and Ian Shaw.

There are frequent performing opportunities, in many different settings – and students are encouraged to participate whenever they have prepared repertoire, when they are ready.

We expect singers to have reached a certain level of vocal maturity before joining us at the Centre for Advanced Training. As such, it is very unlikely (although not impossible) that a young singer will be invited to train with us if they are under the age of 14.

We also encourage our singers to apply for an audition for Quay Voices which rehearses fortnightly throughout the year.