Modules

The Foundation course consists of seven modules, which can be taken as a whole or individually.

Getting Started As A Singing Teacher

Explore the foundational aspects of becoming a singing teacher in this module. Discover why students seek vocal instruction, understand the role of the singing teacher, and learn the attributes necessary for success. Delve into the pros and cons of the career of a singing teacher and gain clarity through the “7 Questions” framework, designed to guide your career path. Whether you’re starting out or seeking clarity, this course provides valuable insights to kickstart your journey as a singing teacher.

Introduction to Vocal Functional Anatomy and Physiology

Introduction to Functional Assessment

In this module you will explore and understand functional assessment of the singing voice. Functional assessment focuses on being able to evaluate how the structures of the vocal instrument are working, are they balanced and easy, or imbalanced and causing issues with itch, tone, delivery or vocal health? In this module you will be guided thorough the assess processes step but step. You’ll be tuning in to anatomical structures and functions of the singing voice, particularly in relation to sound and pitch production.

Introduction to the Teaching Tools

In this module you will explore and understand the various teaching tools you have to help correct and assist a student to develop their singing voice. There are hundred of ways to address technical and developmental challenges of the singing voice. In this module you will lay a solid foundation that will serve you for the rest of your teaching career. In this module we will explore each tool individually what each tool is comprised of and some ways you might apply it in a lesson.

Giving A Lesson

In this module you will to learn how to deliver a structured student centred singing lesson. You will learn how to set up your studio, gather a relevant history, help the student set goals. You will explore a variety of teaching strategies and learning styles, compare differences between sexes and ages and how to maintain motivation to ensure you are able to effectively communicate and educate your students

Intro to Vocal Health and Pathology

In this module you will find out the common causes and types of vocal health issues a singer might experience, how to recognise when there’s an issue that needs addressing, when and where to refer the student to for medical assessment, treatment and advice and how to help the student prevent problems in the first place.

Setting Up Your Singing Teacher Business

Learning objectives

By the end of the seven modules, you’ll feel comfortable and equipped to start teaching one-to-one singing lessons, gaining the confidence and knowledge to take on paying students.

By the end of an individual module, you should have a basic grasp of the module’s topic.

Delivery

You will learn from self-paced, prerecorded video lessons, practical exercises, and downloadable resources.

There is an option to purchase access to the BAST Training Knowledge Hub, where there are masterclasses, educational videos, teaching clinics, the Vocal Warm Up course and more, as well as one-to-one mentoring.

Self-study

We encourage self-study. You are an adult, and we hope that you will put in the work required to get good at this job. Each topic has an accompanying pop quiz, and we have tonnes of suggested self-study activities and reading to recommend to go with the main topics.

Evaluation

There is no formal assessment made on this course. If this is something you’re looking for, the Level 5 Extended Diploma qualification includes formal assessment, with a total of 120 credits for the six-module course.

If you choose the Foundation Advance or Excel plan you will receive a Certificate of Completion on completion of the full course and mentoring.

Eligibility

We highly recommend you have the minimum of the following:

1. Up to three years of performance experience and/or a qualification in music/performance/singing from a recognised university or college.

2. Basic keyboard skills are preferred but not essential to get the best from the course.  The Foundation course is accompanied by an introductory Keyboard & Scales course covering the piano notes, how to construct and play a major scale, its derivatives, major triads, arpeggios and the Extended Arpeggio (aka Long Scale, 1.5 Octave or Rossini scale). We believe to teach effectively, you need, at the very least, to be able to play scales, arpeggios and root-position chords. It is therefore highly recommended that non-players get some lessons to cover the piano basics.

3. Basic Music theory is preferred but not essential to do the course. You should be able to label all twelve note names, including the #’s and ♭’s, recognise a major triad, arpeggio, know the commonly used time signatures (2/2, 4/4, 3/4, 12/8), note and rest values plus their dotted values, triplet. All Major scales, triads and arpeggios. Note values: semiquaver (sixteenth note), quaver (eighth note), crotchet (quarter note), minim (half note) and semibreve (whole note), dotted and their rests.

Test yourself

Accompanying the basic Keyboard and Scales course is an evaluation test to help you evaluate where you are. Join The Knowledge Hub for free, and you will be able to access the course.