THE VOICE COLLEGE

• The Voice College was founded in 2001 by Ria Keen, and was known as VIDLA from then up until April 2016. It was Ria's dream to create a college that could train singing teachers and singers to a very high standard, after years of teaching students who had come to her from other coaches, complaining that they had learned nothing in return for spending a small fortune on lessons. She believed then, as now, that singing teachers should be properly trained and qualified, and should not rely on just 'passing on what they know' without benefit of proper research or - as is the case for so many - any teacher-training whatsoever. Another core belief of the college is that singers need to do more than just open their mouths and hope for the best if they want to develop or preserve a voice that will serve them through a long-term career. 

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Where we are...

• The distance-learning courses that have always formed the bedrock of our provision have proved popular the world over. We have trained and are training teachers and vocalists from such far-flung places as The United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Sweden, Germany, The Netherlands, Greece, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, and of course many people here in the UK. 

• The Voice College motto is "Above and Beyond" and we always set out to go the extra mile for our students and clients. Time and again we are told that our tutor support is second to none - and that is because our policy is to hire only the best communicators, the most passionate, the most dedicated, and the most academically gifted teachers. 

• Every single member of the core team of tutors has at one time been a Voice College student, so they understand what it's like to be on the other side of the experience! In addition to being great educators, they are also great singers, experienced performers, writers and composers, and all maintain a professional career outside of teaching.  

• We take our work (but not ourselves!) very seriously and we always put the student first, getting to know each one personally. The Voice College is not a giant corporation run by faceless men in suits - we are a dedicated, remote team of singers, coaches and educators whose common goal is to 'change the world, one note at a time.' 

• We also work with a team of extraordinarily gifted consultants, each of whom specialises in a field either directly or obliquely related to the world of voice. 

Where we're going... 

• In 2015 we launched our very own online campus, which is a central location for both studying and socialising. Students each have a private study room, including direct, private communications with their tutor, as well as access to the common room where they can chat with fellow students, staff and colleagues, and a library where they can indulge their inner voice geek! 

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• Our campus is a 'virtual college' and a community where students can promote their work, get to know other like-minded people, ask advice and of course stay up to date with all the latest opportunities and events via the college. The campus gives our students a sense of community, as we are aware that distance and independent learning can sometimes feel very lonely. 

• We are always developing and refining our provision, and in 2017 launch the unique MasterSinger course which will combine interactive online learning with residential 3-day study periods working with the team and invited guest speakers. This is a modular, top-level course in Applied Vocal Pedagogy and will be suitable for both singers and singing teachers. 

• 2017 also brings our brand-new fully-mentored Access to Teaching Singing course for singers who want to make their first steps towards becoming a singing teacher.

• We have also just invested in a fabulous interactive online learning platform from which we will be able to offer tutored and untutored learning opportunities at all levels, from simple single-module options to longer, multi-layered courses, in subjects ranging from across-the-board vocal technique to managing stress, physical rehab and postural work, teaching technique and psychology, and a wide range of other options. 

• We will be releasing the courses throughout the year, and plan on developing an extensive range for you to mix-and-match as you please!