Training - AOTOS

The accredited online Essentials course offers unique hands-on guidance to people who want to teach singing well and are starting out on that journey. It shows aspiring singing teachers how to acquire the basic skills needed to start teaching safely and with confidence.

Over 140 people have now developed their singing teaching skills with the help of this structured five-session programme led by a select group of expert course leaders.

In June 2024 we added the Essentials Practical Teaching Day to the programme to give early career teachers chance to put these newly-acquired skills into practice. We also offer an intensive Essentials Weekend where all sessions are undertaken between Friday evening and Sunday afternoon.

About the Essentials course

Aimed at people who have at least two students and have been teaching for a minimum of six months – and up to four years.

The course is run online in five sessions in a group setting facilitated by a course leader supported by engaging video material provided by experts in their field. Topics covered include:

basic pedagogy
vocal health
the changing voice
teaching different singing styles
running a business
setting up your studio
motivating your students

Please contact Joy Naylor [email protected] if you would like more information about joining the next cohort.

There is a maximum of twelve spaces on each course and bookings will close one week before the start date or when the course is full.

Participants will also need to have access to the following books:

– Teaching Singing to Children and Young People – Jenevora Williams (Compton Publishing)
– This is a Voice – Jeremy Fisher and Gillyanne Kayes (welcome collection)
– Anatomy of the Voice – Theodore Dimon (North Atlantic Books)

Participants will need to complete the course to get the accreditation.

There is one Dorothy Richardson bursary available for each course. If the cost is prohibitive for you, click here to view available bursaries.

The next course is an Essentials Weekend which takes place online from 24–26 January 2025.

Course development team

Heidi Pegler

Janice V Thompson

Alison Ling

Janet Munro

Joy Naylor

Lucy Sealy

Course contributors (video material)

Joy Naylor – teaching a lesson (practical demonstration)
Linda Hutchison – vocal pedagogy
Rob Lines – warming up the body in preparation for singing
Melanie Mehta – what to do when a voice goes wrong – vocal health and support
Suzanne Chadwick – the changing voice
Adrienne Hale – teaching different singing styles (classical, MT and CCM)
Janet Shell – how to set up your teaching studio
Heidi Pegler and Janice V. Thompson – safe-guarding and GDPR
Janet Munro – motivating strategies for your students
Angela Durrant – marketing and developing your business

Click here for full information about all of the Course Development Team and Contributors

AOTOS membership

We also highly recommend that you become an AOTOS member if you are not already. Membership gives you access to our programme of conferences and development days, which we strongly recommend that you use as part of your continued professional development (CPD).

Find out more

If you would like further information about the Essentials course, please contact Joy Naylor at [email protected]