Vocal Summit

Your voice—it’s your instrument. Take the next step to develop your sound in this five-day program with instruction in vocal technique, style, performance skills, singing with a band, group singing, and a cappella performance. Open to vocalists, singer-songwriters, and instrumentalists who sing, Vocal Summit will let you explore the world of contemporary vocal music.

2021 Program Information

Program dates:	Monday, June 14–Friday, June 18, 2021
Registration fee:	$50 (nonrefundable, nontransferable)
Tuition:	$1,295
Housing:	$895
Payment deadline:	May 1, 2021
Move in:	TBD
Move out:	Friday, June 18, 2021, by 7:00 p.m.
Age range:	15 years and older

What is the curriculum like?

Vocal Summit offers styles in pop-rock, pop and R&B, jazz, and musical theater. You'll select one style to study during the program and participate in several core classes throughout the week.

Solo coaching: These are small classes where singers perform solo songs with accompaniment in a master class setting. Students will be coached on interpretation, phrasing, expression, timbre, register, key selection, working with a band, countoffs, cues, cutoffs, microphone technique, and stage presence.
Ensembles: Vocal ensembles are groups of 20–40 singers directed by Berklee faculty and accompanied by a rhythm section. Each ensemble will perform one musical selection at the final concert.

Students will also select workshops to attend throughout the program.Though electives for 2020 are not yet available, the following list of electives offered in 2019 will give you a sense of what to expect:

Vocal Technique Overview
Improvisation for Vocalists
Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Background Singing
Ace the Audition
How to Record and Mix Vocals
Voicewerk: Vocal Technique
Empowerment for the Emerging Artist
Learn to Beat Box
Singer-Songwriter Workshop
Soul, R&B: The Past, Present, and Future
Musical Theater Audition Techniques
Demystifying the Mix Voice

What is the schedule?

Below is a sample of a typical day in the program.

Time	Event
8:00 a.m.–8:50 a.m.	Breakfast
9:00 a.m.–10:50 a.m.	Ensemble or Solo Coaching
11:00 a.m.–12:50 p.m.	Ensemble or Solo Coaching
1:00 p.m.–1:50 p.m.	Lunch
2:00 p.m.–3:50 p.m.	Visiting Artist Presentation
4:00 p.m.–5:50 p.m.	Workshops
6:00 p.m.–7:20 p.m.	Dinner
7:30 p.m.–8:50 p.m.	Visiting Artist Concert
9:00 p.m.–10:20 p.m.	Open Mics

Schedule subject to change

What are the performance opportunities?

The program culminates in a final showcase of student ensembles. Each student will take the stage and participate in at least one ensemble.

Students also have the opportunity to perform in open mics each evening. Open mics are a great chance for students to perform in a different style than their elected style for classes.

All performances are free and open to friends and family.

What are the requirements to attend?

All students 15 and older with six months of singing experience are welcome to attend.

Please note: This program has limited capacity. Submission of registration materials alone does not guarantee participation in the program. You will secure your spot by paying in full. When the program capacity has been reached, registrants who have not paid in full will be placed on a waitlist.

What do I need to bring?

Please prepare four songs that you're confident performing (preferably from memory) for your solo coaching class. Bring four copies of a lead sheet for each song you’ll sing, making sure the song is in a comfortable key for you.To learn more about how to convert sheet music to a lead sheet, see the resources below:

Students are not required to bring a microphone, but may choose to do so. If you do bring a mic, please label it so it does not get lost.

If you intend to stay in the Berklee residence halls while participating in the program, please also review what to bring for your room on the housing page.

Program Director Anne Peckham

Anne Peckham is a singer, voice teacher, and author whose work has had a major worldwide impact on the field of contemporary vocal pedagogy. Chair of the Voice Department at Berklee College of Music since 2011, she has helped expand the college’s reputation as the best place in the world to study singing, especially contemporary styles. The Voice Department is the largest instrumental department at Berklee, serving the needs of more than 1,300 voice principals, with 75 dedicated faculty members.

Program Director Cindy Scott

Cindy Scott’s technical mastery and commitment to lyrical expression have earned her fans worldwide. She has been steeped in roots music, jazz, gospel, and Southern soul, and holds master's degrees in both jazz performance and international business.

Explore more of Berklee. When you register for the Vocal Summit, you can also register for the Songwriting Workshop and the Electronic Music Production and Sound Design Workshop to extend your stay at Berklee.

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