In Opera & Classical Singing
The MasterClass is an opportunity to receive expert tuition in a kinder, interactive, professional environment from a highly esteemed member of the profession.
The concept of a ‘master class’ can be traced directly back to the celebrated pianist and composer Franz Liszt, who is credited for developing the format in the late 1900s. Masterclasses have gone on to become a staple of classical music education in the ensuing decades.
In simple terms, a masterclass is a dynamic learning session that features students of an advanced level of ability, together in one room, each performing a particular piece and being guided in their performance by a master musician. The student is then usually expected to play the piece again, in light of the Master’s comments.
The value of the masterclass format is that all students present can benefit from the Master’s comments on each piece. Masterclasses for singing tend to focus on the finer details of attack, tone, phrasing, and emotion.
Just as master craftsmen pass on their knowledge from generation to generation by taking on young apprentices, great musicians ensure that their knowledge will not be lost by passing it on to a new generation of artists. Classical music continues to grow, develop, evolve and thrive through this unbroken chain of the master/student relationship.