The Contemporary Singer – Second Edition

Specialist Vocal Styles Certificate Program

A successful vocalist is ready for whatever the gig demands. This certificate program will develop your technique and skills in the jazz, R&B, pop, and rock genres so that you'll be comfortable with almost any set list you may encounter in the studio, on the stage, or on the road. Whether you’re a seasoned professional vocalist looking to expand your repertoire, reach, and/or opportunities, or an amateur who wants to sing more effectively, studying with Berklee’s renowned faculty will afford you an understanding of vocal technique across genres that is sure to prove helpful for years to come.

Specialist Singer-Songwriter Certificate Program

Great songs don’t write themselves. They come from great singer-songwriters who equip themselves with the skills and tools to make the most of their ideas. That means reaching a level of vocal and instrumental proficiency that allows your songs to shine. In this program, that instrumental proficiency is tailored to singer-songwriters who play guitar. The program culminates with strategies developed by legendary Berklee professor Pat Pattison for writing the brilliant lyrics common to many hit songs. You’ll leave this course with an understanding of how best to create unified, memorable songs.

Pop and Rock Vocals

Through guided study using video demonstrations, audio clips, and informative historical narrative, you will learn the technical and interpretive vocal skills necessary to master the styles of pop/rock greats, such as John Lennon / Paul McCartney, Janis Joplin, Robert Plant, Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Madonna, Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, Tori Amos, Gwen Stefani, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, and many others.

R&B Vocals

Learn the vocal techniques of the R&B greats, including Steve Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, and Beyonce. In this course, you'll gain the necessary skills to sing R&B in an authentic way, including proper phrasing, riffing, shouting, scale patterns, rhythmic articulation and much more.

Specialist Voice Technique and Musicianship Certificate Program

To thrive as a well-rounded vocalist, you need more than a great voice; you also need to understand the mechanics of contemporary music. This certificate program offers music theory (intervals, scales, harmony, etc.), ear training (time, rhythm, pitch using the solfege method, etc.), and voice studies (breath, technique, vocal care, etc.)—all knowledge that is tailored to you as a vocalist. With a strong awareness of what is happening in the music that you hear, write, and/or sing, you’ll be able to stand out as a more confident and capable musician and vocal performer.

Jazz Voice

Apply the unique vocal characteristics of great jazz singers such as Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughn into your own sound. Understand proper jazz vocal delivery in a number of tempos and gain confidence singing an array of jazz standards in a live or recorded context.

Voice Technique 101

Make your voice sound more powerful, use vocal technique to expand your range and expression, and learn to become more confident in vocal performances.