Off the Page and Onto the Stage

–
Tutors: Thomas Coltman, Madeleine Holmes

About Off the Page and Onto the Stage

Take your communicative power as a singer to a whole new level in this holistic course designed to help you embody your chosen characters more deeply and feel more connected to your dramatic performance.

What is the course about?

Develop your dramatic intention and character embodiment in this holistic course from expert coaches; soprano, voice and yoga teacher Madeleine Holmes and baritone, vocal coach and pianist Thomas Coltman, who together have a wealth of stage experience. The course is individually tailored to each singer, and focuses on how to embody your singing, exploring physicality, creativity, character, imagination, psychology and vocal expression. By workshopping your learned works with a focus on performance, you’ll be able to take your communicative power as a singer to a whole new level. We’ll playfully explore different possibilities in interpretation, set clear dramatic intentions and develop your communication skills on stage, so that you feel powerfully connected in your embodiment of your chosen characters.

What will you learn?

By the end of the course you will: Challenge yourself to uncover new possibilities in your performance, feeling a deeper connection to your chosen characters, and new freedom of expression. Gain tailored advice from expert singers and vocal coaches, unique to you. Develop your performance style as a singer, with a focus on dramatic intention, stage presence, and communication. Leave with a new confidence, feeling ready for upcoming auditions and performances

How will the course be taught?

We’ll work in a group workshop throughout, with time divided between morning masterclasses, afternoon movement, acting and individual coaching sessions and relaxed evening sharing sessions with additional repertoire to experiment with. For the evening sessions, we encourage you to collaborate with fellow course members for duets and trios, subject to available voices. Each day will begin with a grounding warm up, bringing in principles from yoga and somatic practice, to help balance the nervous system and bring your whole self into this work. Main sessions will focus on movement, communication and characterisation to bring your chosen pieces alive.

Who is the course for?

This course is for Confident or Skilful singers, as outlined in the Benslow Guide to Standards, who are looking to take their stage performance to the next level.

Will music be provided and do you need to prepare or bring anything?

For the main working sessions, students will be asked to submit 5 choices of stage works (opera, operetta, musical theatre) that are already technically secure and memorised, from which 3 will be selected by the tutors. Pieces should be between 3-5 minutes long. Longer pieces/scenes will be considered but will be split across two working sessions.

There will also be an opportunity to let your hair down in our relaxed evening sharing sessions. For these, please bring something contrasting (songs/ ballads, shanties all welcome!). Here’s also your chance to team up with your fellow students and have a go at a duet or trio.

Our afternoon sessions are flexible spaces in which we will explore aspects of physical and vocal stage presence in response to the work achieved in the mornings sessions. Exercises and music will be provided by the Tutors during the course at Benslow or, where necessary, in advance.

There will be a short warm up of the body and voice before each of our morning sessions, focusing on breath connection, awareness and presence.

Course Tutors

“An excellent course from Maddy and Tom as ever. They gave us their all , honing in on our individual needs and improving our singing by their input. The structure of the course is well organised and works really well combining tutoring group activities and sharing sessions. Extremely enjoyable and helpful.”

'Maddy and Tom are two of the best tutors I have ever had.... Their energy, dedication to each and everyone of us, and their knowledge and professionalism was superlative.'

'The most enjoyable, fun and informative course I have experienced.'

'Be brave - Maddy and Tom will support you all the way!'

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