Teachers College Columbia University: The Voice Lab Recently Updated

 Through daily vocal work, students will gain knowledge of their own voices; experience diverse repertoire—including jazz, gospel, and singer-songwriter traditions—broadening their cultural awareness; and through ensemble singing, they will build a sense of belonging and shared purpose. this course fosters artistic growth, cultural understanding, and community well-being. 

Who are you becoming—and how will the world hear you?

Do you want to grow as a vocalist, connect with others, and express your true self as you prepare for college?

Ready to turn up the volume on your confidence, creativity, and community?

This course explores the deep connection between vocal identity, personal growth, and community. Designed for teens, it supports the development of both literal and figurative voices during a key stage of identity formation, which continues into early adulthood. Through daily vocal work, students will gain knowledge of their own voices; experience diverse repertoire—including jazz, gospel, and singer-songwriter traditions—broadening their cultural awareness; and through ensemble singing, they will build a sense of belonging and shared purpose. By combining vocal, musical, and collaborative goals, the course fosters artistic growth, cultural understanding, and community well-being.

Specific Course Goals

This course is designed to support teens in developing across three interconnected spheres of learning:

Vocally – Students will develop both their literal voices and their figurative voices, strengthening their sense of identity and self-expression. Research shows a strong connection between vocal identity and self-awareness (Monks, 2003; Becker & Goffi-Fynn, 2016).Musically – Students will explore diverse repertoire, sharing cultural ideas and themes through styles such as jazz, gospel, and singer-songwriter traditions.Community & Shared Experience – Students will come together in a larger ensemble setting to create music collectively. Singing together fosters belonging, shared purpose, and community well-being.

In summary, through this course, teens will explore their voices while building confidence, creativity, and community. Together we’ll sing music from a wide range of styles—jazz, gospel, singer-songwriter, and more—while also working on daily vocal skills to help each student discover and strengthen their unique voice. Along the way, we’ll share music, learn from different cultures, and create a supportive ensemble where everyone belongs. Please join us!