Vocal Pedagogy

Course Overview

Over five days, participants will gain a deeper understanding of what rough vocal effects are, how they can be approached safely, and how to explore them in their own voices. Each day includes a blend of theory, guided practice, and supervised experimentation, giving singers the freedom to try new sounds while staying grounded in healthy technique.

While CVI has a long research tradition and bases its methods on evidence and ongoing study of vocal function, the course is designed to be accessible, practical, and artistically exciting. The goal is to support each participant in discovering expressive freedom and new artistic artistic choices using rough sounds.

Continuing Education Units are available at no charge. If desired, please indicate your interest on your application.

What You Will Learn

• A clear and safe approach to rough sounds
  Learn how various extreme vocal effects can be explored safely, drawing on CVI’s long experience and research background. You will gain insight into how these sounds are created and how to experiment with them without strain.

• Hands-on exploration of rough effects
  Work with CVT tools that help you try out sounds such as distortion, growl, creaking, and other rough effects. You will have opportunities to explore, play, and discover — always at your own pace and within your own vocal comfort zone.

• Daily blend of practical work and easy-to-understand theory
  Short, engaging presentations are paired with guided exercises and supervised practice sessions, allowing you to immediately try the various sounds.

• Healthy, risk-aware experimentation
  Learn strategies for staying safe: recognizing signs of fatigue, pacing vocal load, and how to always ensure proper support and vocal mode function underneath each vocal effect. The course emphasizes exploration, not pressure — supporting you in finding how it works for your voice. 

• Creative and stylistic applications
  See how rough effects appear in genres like rock, metal, pop, R&B, musical theatre, gospel, and more. You’ll explore how these textures can add intensity, emotion, and artistic expressivity to your singing.

Why This Course?

• CVI’s first U.S. university-partnered course dedicated to rough vocal effects
  A rare chance to study with an institute that has the longest-standing experience teaching and researching extreme sounds for over 35 years. 

• An inspiring, supportive environment
  Perfect for singers who want to expand their vocal palette in a space designed for curiosity, creativity, and vocal health.

• Science-informed yet practical and fun
  The course draws on decades of CVI research in an easy-to-understand, singer-focused format that you can apply immediately to your own vocal exploration.

• A safe way to try new vocal sounds
  Whether you’re a rock or metal vocalist looking for more control, a musical theatre singer wanting dramatic textures, or simply an artist eager to expand your expressive range — this course provides guidance, structure, and inspiration.

Who Should Attend?

• Singers eager to explore rough, gritty, or distorted sounds
• Rock, pop, metal, and musical theatre vocalists looking to broaden their expressive options
• Performers curious about adding intensity, emotion, or roughness to their sound
• Voice professionals seeking a structured, safe introduction to extreme vocal effects
• Anyone interested in expanding their vocal identity in a guided, research-informed, supportive setting

What You'll Leave With

• Clear technical understanding of how rough vocal effects work
• A toolkit of healthy, sustainable ways to experiment with distortion, growl, scream, and more
• Creative applications for your own singing or teaching
• Confidence to use or guide others in exploring rough effects safely
• A unique experience studying with Europe’s leading voice institute, now in the U.S.

Structure & Logistics

• 5 days of theoretical and practical sessions
• Language of instruction: English.
• Teaching faculty: Authorized CVI teachers and UNT Vocal Pedagogy faculty professor Mark Tempesta
• Learning environment: An open, supportive, inclusive, and non-competitive atmosphere — where singers from diverse backgrounds and genres come together to learn, share, and grow.
• Outcome: By the end of the 5 days, you will have learned techniques for the most common vocal effects and have seen them applied to a variety of different voices – ready to implement and practice them in your own singing.

All applicants must submit two recordings (video or audio) with examples of your singing as screening requirements to be considered for acceptance in the course. Applicants may also submit a link to a live performance or album (Youtube, Spotify, SoundCloud, etc.), if desired. Applicants who do not have recordings available may request a short virtual session with a CVI teacher to determine acceptance into the course. 

• Application Fee - $30 (non-refundable)
• Overnight Participant - $2,020 which includes:
  • Tuition
  • Housing (single room with shared bathroom)
  • Three meals per day
  • Parking
• Day Participant - $1,550 which includes:
  • Tuition
• Day Participant Parking - $25 (optional)

 

• Overnight participants must provide their own bedding (extra-long twin size), pillows, towels, and toiletries.
• Day participants have the option to bring their own meals, take meals in the dining hall, or go off campus for meals.

• May 1, 2026 - Application & Application Fee Due
• May 13, 2026 - Deposit Due
• May 27, 2026 - Final Payment Due

Deposit - Due May 13, 2026

• $1,000
  • This includes a non-refundable administrative fee (see Refund Policy for additional information).

Final Payment - Due May 27, 2026

• All remaining fees
  • If you have not paid in full by this date and have not contacted us at music.camps@unt.edu, we will assume you do not plan to participate and will not hold your spot.
  • We are unable to provide deposit refunds to participants who have not communicated with us by the date above.

• A $30 application fee is due at the time of application. 

• The application fee is non-refundable regardless of acceptance into the course. 

• If accepted to the course, the deposit and final payment must be made by the dates above, or the participant may forfeit their spot. 

• Participants must be 18 years of age or older at the time of the course. 

• We are unable to provide partial refunds for unused services including meals and parking. 

• Requested by May 15, 2026 – Full refund less $250 administrative fee 

• Requested by June 1, 2026 – Full refund less $500 administrative fee 

• We are unable to provide partial refunds for unused services including meals and parking. 

• • We are unable to process refunds requested after June 1, 2026. 

• • No refunds will be made should a participant be dismissed for violating UNT policy or program rules provided on the first day.