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Singing - Private or Group Lessons

 


What do I offer and what is my background?

I can help you to free your singing voice - to sing with greater ease, clarity, resonance and power. I can help you reduce performance nerves and to develop increasing confidence as an amateur of professional performer.

I have been teaching since 1982 and have taught a combination of Alexander Technique, NLP, voice-work and singing at some of London's top drama and music schools- the Arts Educational Drama School, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal College of Music.

"In my twenty three years at the Royal College of Music, nearly every one of my students has been advised at our first meeting to put their name down for Alexander lessons! It is the perfect starting-point for learning about the physical facts of the art of singing and how to put them into practice."
Professor Lyndon Van Der Pump- Professor of Singing, Royal College of Music

Freeing your voice - The Alexander Technique applied to the speaking and singing voice Presentation Skills Training - Applied Alexander Technique with Alan Mars The Alexander Technique - move through your life with greater ease Alan Mars is the author of 'Presenter - Be your best...And Beyond
What happens in a typical lesson?

Vocal placement & posture

The lessons starts with gentle vocal exercises based around gentle humming and open vowel sounds. This is accompanied by delicate Alexander Technique hands-on guidance to improve posture, poise and vocal placement. Please see below for an article and link on Alexander Technique & Voice.


Pitch & volume

  • Using simple scales to smoothly lower and raise the pitch of your voice whilst maintaining awareness of posture and alignment.

  • Exercises for making a smooth transition from quieter to louder and back again to quieter volume.

  • Gradually extending your vocal range and comfort zone.


Rhythm & smoothness

Working with the text of songs and poetry to develop rhythm, pace and smoothness in the vocal line.


Understanding the story

  • Understanding the song text.

  • Bringing the story to life in your own mind and in the mind of the audience.


Internal stage management

Confidence boosting techniques and mental rehearsal skills drawn from the worlds of psychology, physiology and the theatre Alexander Technique, NLP, energy and breathing awareness etc.

Please Click Here for an article "We are all born singers".


Alexander Technique active resting position

The number one favourite exercise of my drama and music students over the years!
Why? It yields benefits way out of proportion to any effort that you put in. In addition to being restful for the spine and soothing for bad backs it is also a great stress alleviator. Not to mention being a great position from which to do some of your vocal exercises.

Please Click Here for an article "Semi-Supine Alexander Technique - Confidence Tricks 11" (With YouTube video clip)

N. B. I am not a pianist and do not provide piano accompaniment for songs. I do play Celtic harp and can provide a basic accompaniment for folk songs, pop, ballads etc. I also have good microphones and amplification for those who would like to sing with a backing track.



Who do I teach?

Anyone who wants to free their voice. I have taught everyone from the so-called 'tone-deaf' to principal solists at the ENO and Covent Garden:

Those who just want to give their voice a spring-clean; the brave 'non-singer' who wants to take the plunge; amateur and professional choral singers; pop-singers; actors and opera singers who just want to get that extra edge.

 

Articles

We are all born singers

When we think of the word "health" we may also think of "happiness". And from happiness it is a short leap of the imagination to song and celebration. And just as happiness can lead to song, so also can singing can chase away the blues at the beginning, middle or the end of the day. It re-establishes a full, easy pattern of breathing and encourages release of the muscular system, with all the attendant benefits of stress alleviation. It is a way of expressing your feelings and of linking up with other people and the world around you.

Read More > >...

Courses Offered

Voice, Singing & the Alexander Technique

Postural landmarks to free your voice, breathing & confidence. Gentle manual guidance & verbal coaching coupled with simple exercises in pitch, volume & rhythm. Beautiful songs. Non-singers especially welcome!

Enquire about dates of next course. Flat 1, 26 Ventnor Villas, Hove, BN3 3DE. 01273 747289

Register Now!


 

ALAN MARS - m: 07930 323057 e: alan.mars@yahoo.co.uk