FUNDAMENTALS OF TEACHING SINGING PROGRAM
A solid foundation for new singing teachers.
1-Year Curriculum
Vocal Theory
Practical Application
Warm-Up App
Establishing A Strong Foundation
Breaking into the world of teaching singers can feel like quite a challenge. While you may be a talented singer yourself, knowing how to guide others is a completely different skill set. On top of that, you may have to build a business from the ground up. It can feel lonely and intimidating as you navigate not only the nuances of teaching but also the complexities of running a successful enterprise.
Fortunately, you can do more than hope for the best. At Vocal Advancement, we help burgeoning teachers establish a strong foundation in the basic tenets of singing instruction.
Proceed with confidence.
We’ve worked with hundreds of thousands of singers and thousands of singing teachers, refining our approach along the way, so that now we can share it with you.
In our beginner, 1-year Fundamentals of Teaching Singing course, you'll learn how the voice works and how to quickly diagnose and fix problems in any voice.
A testimonial from one of our teachers
"I can honestly say that IVA has changed my life in so many ways. At IVA, I've become the best teacher I can be! I'm constantly learning and meeting new friends worldwide, and I feel so much freedom and serenity while I teach. My students and I just love IVA."
Katja Vogel
Germany
Your Program, Your Journey
Our 1-year program is designed for those considering teaching others to sing or for a beginning teacher who would like to add to their teaching strategies.
The program offers an overview of the more complex range of skills and techniques covered in our 3-year program and provides a look into the more comprehensive instruction available at Vocal Advancement.
- Complete the program in 1 year, at your pace
- Learn within a cohort led by a dedicated mentor
- Study when you can with live or recorded sessions
- Select electives that customize your experience
- Upgrade to the 3-year program at any point
The program is comprehensive.
We take a highly practical approach to singing teacher training
and cover the basics we wished we would have known from the start.
Understanding Your Students' Ambitions
We begin by exploring how to gather all the information you need about each new student. Checking for medical issues, identifying goals, and establishing structure are all critical to successful lessons.
The Science of Voice
At the most basic level, our voices are extensions of our anatomy. We'll cover the science of voices, and you'll learn the importance of understanding each student's unique physical makeup.
The "Cause and Effect" Philosophy
Voices are like a seesaw, and a little extra push on one end will have a coordinating result on the other end. We'll introduce vocal exercises that can be taught to quickly correct common issues with a student's voice.
The Big 3 Voice Tendencies
Your students' voices will vary widely in dozens of ways! We'll teach you to identify the three main components of a voice and how to formulate a strategy to address the most impactful issues for quick success.
An Introduction to Vocal Balance
Vocal balance—the even, seamless ability to connect notes and registers—is easily heard but not as easily taught. We'll show you how to address this important aspect of singing with your students.
Your Singing Teacher Toolbox
A teacher should always have a toolbox of strategies at the ready. We'll fill up your box with a variety of techniques for starting pitches, singing vowels and consonants, scale patterns, and so much more.
Quick Fixes For Vocal Challenges
Our team of experienced teachers has collected common vocal issues and put together strategies in go-to lesson plans that are easy to teach and yield quick results for your students.
Successful Song Application
Once all of the tenets of singing are covered, there is still the matter of putting the pieces together. We'll show you how to teach your students to merge all of their vocal technical training for professional results.
It's everything you need to start your teaching career.
Expect to learn in three ways.
Each cohort starts and finishes together with the same dedicated mentor who serves as a guide during your studies. Within the cohort, you'll also have learning experiences that are—
—one-on-one.
Get direct feedback from experienced instructors.
—with a group.
Gain diverse perspectives from learning within a global cohort.
—on your own.
Study whenever and wherever it makes the most sense for you.
Each year, you get to participate in our range of events.
We have a range of live events all year. You can attend live (in person or online) or access high-quality recordings of sessions after the event. (Get excited! Teachers love participating in these live events!)
Testimonials
Photos from IVACON & Live Events
You may still be wondering...
What's the difference between the 1-year program and the 3-year program?
The 1-year program is the first year of the 3-year program. Meaning, if you decide to continue your learning, you can move directly into year two of the 3-year program upon completion of the 1-year program. We offer the split because, for some, the 1-year program is all they can commit to at first, or perhaps may be all they need. It offers an overview of all the concepts we dive deeper into during years two and three of the 3-year program.
If you're not sure which is the best fit for you, please reach out using the button at the bottom of this section.
The program operates on a credit-based system. You have one year from when your cohort starts to complete the requirements and pass the final evaluations. Get a detailed breakdown of the curriculum here. To give you an idea of your course load, we have included a suggested timetable for completion in the program guide.
All education is offered virtually.
Yes! You can take all of our courses online, live during its scheduled run, or you can access a recording later. Training is offered live (either in person or online where appropriate), and you can choose how to attend. Learn more about program offerings here.
We hold an annual live conference for all past and present alumni and staff, and we hope you will join us in person for the IVACON conference during your time with us!
You will receive a Certificate of Completion when you complete this program!
You also receive a basic listing on the IVA website as alumni and may choose to become part of our membership community, The LIST. IVA Alumni will have opportunities to continue their growth through live events, training, and conferences.
For the most up-to-date pricing and curriculum information, please request a program guide.
You have one year from your cohort's start date to complete the requirements. We will provide an example timetable to show you how to structure your time to get the most from your education, and you'll be guided step-by-step by a dedicated mentor for your cohort. Request our program guide to get a sneak peek of what to expect.
Our 1-year program contains an overview of a large volume of information, and to receive the full benefit of training, it cannot be completed faster.
No! Our programs are designed to help every level of teacher, including beginners.
Our training is open to applications from all countries, except Russia.
Don't worry! The entire program was created using basic English.
In order to apply for the 2025 cohort, we ask that you download our program guide and read all the details first. The program guide discusses cost, curriculum, and application instructions in detail. If you've read the details and are ready to apply, you may do so here.
Absolutely! Please get in touch with us using the "Talk with our team first" button below.
Allow us to introduce ourselves.
We would very much like to know you. In the meantime, here is a bit about our global community of educators, touting a collective 130 years of experience.
Stephanie Borm-Krüger
Stephanie Borm-Krüger was born in Munich in 1975. Since graduating from high school, she has pursued an educat...
Spencer Welch
After a successful career as a recording artist, studio musician, producer, and vocal coach, Spencer Welch is ...
Kathy Kennedy
Kathy brings over 25 years of real-world experience as a singer to her thriving teaching practice. She has enj...
Jeffrey Skouson
Singer, producer, pianist, and top vocal instructor Jeffrey Skouson trains more than 150 students worldwide. M...
Andreas Grussl
Voice instructor, vocal producer, and lawyer Andreas Grussl runs a very successful voice studio in his hometow...
Heather Baker
Heather Baker is a Contemporary Voice Teacher based in the North of England. She is one of the Institute for V...
Linda Tomkinson
Linda Tomkinson is a vocal coach and owner of SingWithLinda’s Artist Hub. She is known as the voice teacher wh...
Tom Bathgate
Tom Bathgate has spent the last 16 years helping singers discover their voices and realize their full potentia...
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On the other end of one year is a confident teacher.
Collective industry knowledge is valuable for a new career, but beginners may find it hard to access. This program exists to change that! Benefit from a legacy of combined knowledge and experience, and start your teaching career with clarity, confidence, and community.