From Couch to Chorus

A beginner’s guide to singing opera

Weekly, 20 July – 12 August

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Ever wanted to learn how to sing opera?

Join us for a fun four-week series of workshops where you’ll learn all the best singing tips and tricks from a professional choral director from Opera North. By the end of the course, you will be able to sing excerpts from Bizet’s Carmen and Smetana’s The Bartered Bride, as well as the rousing Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from Verdi’s Nabucco. In the final workshop singers from all vocal parts will join together to sing as a full virtual chorus via Zoom!

This course is open to all levels of singers, from complete beginners to experienced choir-goers; there’s no requirement to read music and you’ll be provided with all the resources you need to help you experience what it’s like to sing in an opera chorus – from the comfort of your own home!

The workshop is ‘pay as you feel’ – you will have the opportunity to donate however much you like in the checkout stage and before or after each workshop. If you can’t make the daytime sessions due to other commitments, we’ll be sending the Zoom recordings after each workshop so you can catch up at a time that suits you.

From Couch to Chorus and our wider education programme is kindly supported by the Emerald Foundation.

Price

Pay as you feel

Dates & times
There is one session a week per voice type which will last approximately 1 hour. Please see details below.

Not sure what voice type you are?
Please contact lifelonglearning@operanorth.co.uk and we can help advise which voice type would suit you. Please only sign up to one voice type to ensure we can make as many places available to participants as possible.

Step 1

Sign up to Couch to Chorus by clicking the sign up button at the top of the page and select your voice type – Soprano, Alto, Tenor or Bass. If you’re not sure what your voice type is, please email lifelonglearning@operanorth.co.uk and a member of our team will get in touch. At the checkout stage you will be given an opportunity to donate.

Step 2

Workshops are split out by voice type. You’ll receive an email before your workshop each week with the Zoom meeting link and other resources to help you with your singing. On the day of the meeting, make sure Zoom is downloaded on your laptop, tablet or mobile and click the link to enter the workshop.

Step 3

Can’t make a session or want to practice in the evening instead? After each workshop, you will be sent the Zoom recording so you can recap the lesson or go over it at a time that suits you. After the four weeks is completed, you will be given the opportunity to meet fellow members from all voice types and talk about your experiences on a Zoom gathering.

Dates & times

Soprano	10am – 11am	Mondays: 20 July, 27 July, 3 August, 10 August
Alto	11.30am – 12.30pm	Mondays: 20 July, 27 July, 3 August, 10 August
Tenor	10am – 11am	Tuesdays: 21 July, 28 July, 4 August, 11 August
Bass	11.30 am – 12.30pm	Tuesdays: 21 July, 28 July, 4 August, 11 August
Culmination Sessions: Wednesday 12th August \| 10am and 11.30am

Resources

From scores for your weekly sessions, to useful videos and playlists, find all the resources you need to go From Couch to Chorus and help you practice at a time that suits you.