Singing for Beginners

This eight-week evening course for beginners will introduce you to a number of techniques to improve your singing and build confidence.

Two women sharing a microphone, smiling and singing together

Key information:

Course dates:: Tuesday evenings on 24 September – 12 November 2024
Course times:: 7pm–8.45pm
Age:: 18+
Art form:: Drama | Music
Fees:: £295
Deadline:: Bookings will close at 5pm, Friday 20 September 2024 or when the course reaches full capacity
Level of study:: Short Courses & Summer Schools (ages 18+)
Mode of study:: In-person
Venue:: Guildhall School of Music & Drama
When:: Autumn Courses (September–November) | Evening Courses
Contact details:: shortcourses@gsmd.ac.uk; +44 (0)20 7382 2310

Public booking opens at 11am, Thursday 4 July. Join our mailing list before Tuesday 2 July to receive priority booking.

Spaces are limited so early booking is encouraged.
Bookings will close at 5pm on Friday 20 September 2024 or when the course reaches full capacity.
For our Terms and Conditions, please click here.

Ages 18+

Course Dates & Times

Tuesday evenings on 24 September, 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 October, 5, 12 November 2024
7pm–8.45pm

About Singing for Beginners

This eight-week evening course for beginners, will introduce you to singing and a number of techniques and exercises that will help to build confidence while improving your voice.

Led by vocal coach Esi Acquaah-Harrison, the course will cover breathing, vocal warm-ups, dynamics in singing, explore colour, texture and expression in song. Participants will also receive tips for maintaining good vocal health. Songs will cover a range of musical genres: gospel, musicals, soul and traditional folk songs.

Through practical exercises, you will experience how to sing in an ensemble or group and there will be opportunities to sing individually, should you wish to. All exercises will be worked on together as a group.

The course will be mostly practical and you will be encouraged to have fun whilst putting your new skills into practice with the rest of the class, in a safe and relaxed environment.

Who is the course for?

For anyone aged 18 and over who has a desire to improve their singing and build confidence, with the help and guidance of an industry-leading professional.
The course is for beginners, with little or no formal training.
The course can also benefit new performers with a little experience.
There is no upper age limit on this course. We encourage and welcome participants from all ages 18 and over.

What can I expect?

Through practical exercises and learning songs, you can expect to:

Experience singing with harmonies in a group
Learn to appreciate the elements that make a song: melody, rhythm, tempo
Discover different ways of expressing yourself through song with dynamics
Practice with vocal warm-ups and exercises
Learn about vocal health
Experience blending in a group
Gain a deeper understanding of your voice
Discover something new about yourself
Build your confidence
Have fun

The course, which will focus on singing and learning together, will evolve with the needs of the group. You will receive feedback from the course tutor during the course, however please note that this is a group course which doesn’t include in-depth personal coaching. You will not be asked to sing on your own, unless you would like to.

Do I need anything for the course?

No materials required. Just your enthusiasm for singing and willingness to participate with others.

'Esi was lovely, creating a very encouraging, non-judgemental environment where everybody felt relaxed and able to have a go.'

– Participant on Singing for Beginners, 2023

Course Fee

£295

Public booking opens at 11am, Thursday 4 July. Join our mailing list before Tuesday 2 July to receive priority booking.

Spaces are limited so early booking is encouraged.
Bookings will close at 5pm on Friday 20 September 2024 or when the course reaches full capacity.
For our Terms and Conditions, please click here.

Eligibility

For everyone aged 18+. There is no upper age limit on this course. We encourage and welcome participants from all ages 18 and over.
Participants must have sufficient English language skills to cope with course demands.

About the Course Tutor

The course is taught by Esi Acquaah-Harrison.

Esi is a voice and dialect coach whose work includes The House of Shades (Almeida Theatre, featuring Anne-Marie Duff); Moreno (theatre 503), The High Table and Lava - award winning play (Bush Theatre), Punk Rock (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Sex Education Series 3 for Netflix, Beneatha's Place and Start (Mountview), Desert Boy, Love and Money (LAMDA), Pigeon English (Bristol School of Acting), Stop Kiss (RADA).

Her other experiences include an exciting ten-year world tour (2010-2019 inclusive) with Cirque du Soleil's show - Totem, in which she was the lead female singer and original cast member. This was preceded by two years as Rafiki in Disney's The Legend of Lion King at Disneyland Resort, Paris. Some of Esi's singing and stage experience includes work with the likes of Luther Vandross, classical singer Jessye Norman, Michael Ball, Mariah Carey and Sir Tom Jones. Esi is a former member of UK's London Community Gospel Choir who recently appeared on Britain's Got Talent. She most recently sang at Rubee's Jam, Pizza Express Live, Holborn, in January and is a featured singer as Aretha Franklin in top tribute group - Ultimate Divas.