VOICE LESSONS AT OCTOPUS
Voice lessons at Octopus Music School are taught using our proprietary OPUS curriculum (Octopus Poly-Instrumental Units of Study). OPUS consists of ten grade levels, each with a requisite assessment and certification. Our curriculum approaches the voice by viewing the entire human body as an instrument; emphasis is placed on conditioning muscle groups, vowel-shaping, understanding from where breath must come to produce the most sustained power and tone, and observing proper posture. Students studying at Octopus will develop a keen ability to match pitch through sight-singing and note-reading exercises. By focusing on technique and reading skills early on, many of the common roadblocks that students experience as they advance simply disappear and steady progress may be made much more quickly.
With consistent practice at recommended intervals, our carefully designed curriculum prepares students to quickly advance from day one by equipping them with the necessary tools and scaffolding to build a comprehensive understanding of the voice. In addition to learning note-reading, rhythm interpretation, and proper technique, students are exposed to theory, aural training, music appreciation, and collaborative courses with peers to help cultivate an immersive environment in which to thrive.
Lessons are still tailored to individuals' unique learning needs, and repertoire remains flexible so that students are able to learn music which interests them, however the core content and benchmarks have been standardized to ensure fast and steady progress for students of all ages and skill levels.
What students learn in lessons is important but equally important is how they apply that knowledge. At Octopus, students collaborate with their peers in bands and ensembles, play for friends at family at our many performance opportunities, and have access to masterclasses conducted by our staff and special guests.
FIND YOUR VOICE TEACHER
AIDAN G,
DIRECTOR OF VOCAL STUDIES
At Octopus Music School, each of our instrument families has a department director who oversees the curriculum, conducts staff trainings, and plans instrument-specific masterclasses and performance events for students. Our Department Directors track all students' progress monthly teaching staff check-ins and are a resource for teachers and students alike.
"We are all born with the ability to project our voice, and singing lessons can help anyone learn to control that projection. Voice lessons at OMS focus on teaching students how to control their breath and resonance to give students the confidence to perform in front of an audience. Voice students of any age will learn to read and audiate sheet music; an extremely useful skill for any beginner or experienced musician. Students will get a chance to sing their favorite songs, and be introduced to a variety of new songs and styles such as classical, folk, jazz, rock, pop, and many more! OMS has a semi-annual showcase where voice students will get to sing on stage with a professional pianist, and many more performance opportunities throughout the year. Our voice instructors look forward to helping students start their vocal adventure at OMS!"
-Aidan G, Director of Vocal Studies
Aidan has studied Voice Performance and Secondary Piano at Westminster Choir College and Voice Performance at Mason Gross of Rutgers University. He has performed throughout the United States, Italy, France, and the UK, and has also studied in masterclass settings with such luminaries as Dalton Baldwin, Niel Shicoff, and Simon Carrington. Aidan sings with world renown outfits, such as the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Same Stream Choir. In addition to his impressive performance CV, he draws on a wealth of instructional experience including teaching secondary voice lessons and aural skills at Mason Gross to undergraduate students.
FIND YOUR VOICE TEACHER
In addition to weekly private lessons, students at Octopus may enroll in one of our amazing band or ensemble programs where they learn a repertoire of songs and prepare for performances in and out of our schools!
In addition to our traditional choral groups, we encourage our voice students to participate in our pop and rock groups. The voice is often at the center of these of a band and singers get a great opportunity to work with students in a collaborative setting while taking on a leadership role during performances.
COLLABORATIVE
OPPORTUNITIES
FIND YOUR VOICE TEACHER
PERFORMANCES
& EVENTS
At Octopus, we believe that the cornerstone of a well-rounded music education must emphasize performance. To that end, OMS curates a multitude of opportunities for students to showcase their hard work throughout the year. From our bi-annual Showcase Series to festivals and community events to our bands' appearances at renown venues such as the Stone Pony and Asbury Lanes, Octopus provides guitar students with countless ways to show off their skills.
We also offer curated guitar masterclasses on a quarterly basis for all enrolled guitar students. Masterclasses are a group setting where one of our staff members or a special guest provides focused instruction to students and an audience. The format is different from a private lesson or formal concert; the goal is to create a learning opportunity for both the performers and observers, and for everyone to leave with new insights.
