An Online College Voice Class is Waiting for You!
If you’re anything like me, you’re so OVER this whole damn pandemic, and just wish it would go away. From the most serious effects of this nightmare, like losing a loved one to COVID-19 (I have), to losing all or part of your livelihood (I have), to the never-ending but necessary annoyances of constantly washing our hands or wiping down our grocery bags, it has all been a royal pain of the first magnitude. And if you sing, whether for fun or professionally, this has thrown a major wrench into your singing life. But, an online college voice class is waiting for you!
We now know that singing in the same room with someone else during this pandemic can be dangerous. Period. When you sing, you put aerosols out into the air much further than 6 feet of social distancing can accommodate. And, depending on the size of the room and the ventilation system it employs, you could be breathing in someone else’s expelled breath sooner or later, which is not something any of us want to be doing at this time!
So, where does that leave you, the person who wants to sing? Who needs to sing? Who loves to sing?! Unfortunately, it leaves you right between the proverbial rock and a hard place. And yet, there are things you can do, right now, that will keep you singing, moving forward in your vocal development, and preparing for the time when we can all start living life normally again. You can take an online college voice class!
If you’ve ever thought of taking voice lessons, either in a class setting or privately, now is the perfect time to explore your passion for singing! I’ve been successfully teaching all my college voice classes and private studio students online since mid-March. What at first seemed like a very daunting task for both teacher and student, online singing classes have now become commonplace and incredibly rewarding and productive! We’ve all figured out the technology, and we’ve learned effective techniques and “workarounds” for not being in the same room. What’s more, we’re having FUN while we’re learning, and gaining a whole new level of relating to each other as teacher and student, as well as student to student.
Now I can hear some of you saying, “Nah, I think I’d rather wait to take a voice class until we’re all back in the same room again”. I get it. As the old song goes:—“Ain’t nothin’ like the real thing, baby!” But you know what? Depending on how the pandemic, the upcoming presidential election, the economy, and God knows what else, go, none of us knows when that’s going to happen. Why put off doing something you’ve always wanted to do, that can be a fantastic experience right now?
If you need a little more convincing, I’d like to direct you to two previous blog posts of mine. The first was written back in March when the quarantine began, “Why You Should Still Sing, Now!” which will inspire you to keep singing, even during these uncertain times: https://nadiasmelser.com/why-you-should-still-sing-now/
The second post is from fall of 2019 (oh, how long ago that seems!), “Take A Great Singing Class and Grow!” and lists all the terrific benefits of taking a group voice class: https://nadiasmelser.com/take-a-great-singing-class-and-grow/
While a few of the points made in this past post pertain specifically to being in a classroom and on campus, most of them are still as true for online classes as well!
What’s So Great About A College Voice Class?
Hmmm, you say… Perhaps at this point you’re thinking it over? And you don’t feel like reading my prior posts. So, here’s a quick rundown of some of the joys of a group voice class:
- It’s WAY less expensive then private lessons
- You’’ll be singing more often, both during class and in your own practices
- You’ll meet and make friends with other singers in your class
- You’ll learn much more about singing than you ever imagined!
- Accountability to learn songs for assignments and work on your technique
- Opportunities for one-on-one coaching in addition to group class activities
- Exposure to a variety of song repertoire
- Improvement of your speaking voice as well as your singing voice
- You get to work with professionally-made accompaniment tracks of your songs
- Preparation for further study and development
You’ll also get some serious stress relief, through body, breath and vocal exercises and you’ll have a great time!
What’s Even Better About an Online College Voice Class?
Sounds good so far, you say, but is there anything actually better about voice class being online? YES!!!! To my surprise, I’ve found that online voice class becomes a much more personal, friendly experience for both the students, and me. We are quite literally in each other’s faces, in a way that is much closer and different from when you’re sitting in your seats in a classroom, much further away. And we’re all coming from our own homes, or workplace, or even our cars— and that fact alone lets us in to each other’s worlds in a way that isn’t possible when you’re in the classroom.
I also find that we really get to talk to each other more, both as we’re waiting for other students to log on to the class, at the break (during longer classes), and hanging out online to talk after class. Somehow being online together during this difficult time in our world gives us a common challenge and a sense of camaraderie as we all support each other, not only through the ups and downs of learning to sing, but of life in general…
And, a BIG bonus of online classes— they are all recorded, and you have access to play them over and over, throughout the semester! This is so helpful for reviewing class material, including vocal exercises, song work and individual coaching sessions.
And, if you miss a class or two during the semester, it’s easy to catch up quickly by watching that day’s class video recording.
Want to come along for the ride? Sing better? Make new friends? Have a wonderfully unique experience?
If you live in Southern California (or even if you don’t!), I would love to see you in one of my singing classes this summer 2021 or Fall 2021.
If you are not already a student there, you must register with the college first:
Once you receive your registration appointment, you can sign up for classes when the Orange Coast College Summer and Fall 2021 schedules become available.:
Music 145, Voice 1
Music 146, Voice 2
And, we also offer other online opportunities to sing:
Applied Lessons, Music 290 — One-on-one voice lessons! (Scholarship auditions are the first week of school)
Pop Voice, Voice 3-4 (Musical Theater Workshop), and many other fantastic online music classes!
