Lesson 8 - 21st November 2016

1st years

By Monday 12th December...

(you should be able to complete this work in the final hour of this lesson)

Either on your blog, on paper or e-mailed to me:

Give a full account of how to ensure healthy use of the voice.

This should include:

• Things in your lifestyle relevant to keeping the voice healthy
• Things to do in rehearsal and practice to ensure a healthy voice
• An account of warm-ups and exercises that can be used to keep the voice healthy

In each case, make sure you explain why these this things are important


Please note:

We will move the solo singing assignment to Monday 12th December as well. No lesson next week!!!

Lesson 6 - 7th November 2016

1st Years: You will be assessed singing a solo song on 28th November.

This will be sung from memory. I will be assessing you on your ability to characterise the song as well as vocal technique, tuning, rhythm etc.


We are working on this song as a group:




(note: it is not quite the arrangement we are doing but it is similar - and it's a really good recording)

Lyrics are here.

Lessons 3, 4 & 5 - 3rd, 10th and 17th October 2016

Here is the next song we will be singing:

Lesson 2 - 26th September 2016

For your solo songs, I will expect you to be able to tell me:


Musical stuff:

What key it is in?

What is the starting note?

Lowest and highest note?



Other stuff:

Name of character singing it.

Why the character is singing it (ie. the song's context in the show).

Composer and librettist.







This will help you with the musical stuff:

Mnemonics (things to help you remember the notes on the stave):

You could make up your own if you prefer...

Lesson 1 - Monday 19th September

This is the first songs we will be looking at. Please make sure you have listened to it before next week.

The lyrics can be found here. Memorise them for next week please.

Suggestions for other chorus songs (Musical Theatre songs, please) can be emailed to:
philip.collins@westking.ac.uk

Solo singing:

Musical Theatre students will need to be working on solo songs. For Dance students, it is optional.

Each week, part of the lesson will be spent working on solo songs. Those of you confident doing so will work with me on your songs in front of the class; those of you who are less confident may work with just me the first time (with one or two friends in the room if you would like).

All songs should be from the Musical Theatre repertoire - ie. songs from shows. Songs from films are acceptable.

It is important that you get used to working with an accompanist. Therefore, you will have to provide sheet music for each song you sing. There is a selection of scores in the library at college (including the Musical Theatre Anthologies which have selections of songs published by voice type.)

Other good places for scores:
Westminster Music Library
Barbican Library

Foyles on Charing Cross Road
Chappells
Argents / Music Room

All MT students need to bring sheet music for at least one song to every lesson. If you are using a score too heavy to carry comfortably, bring it once, let me know and I will photocopy it.