Belting: The Building Blocks
Find out what belting really is, what it's made of, and how to start building it safely.
Live online workshop on Zoom | Saturday 28th November, 11am-12pm (UK time) | Small group
Think of those thrilling, big moments in a song. Aretha Franklin. Freddie Mercury. Elphaba. Whitney. The gospel choir that makes the hairs on your arms stand up.
That's belting. And here's the lovely news: it's a natural sound that humans have been making for ever. Babies do it for hours. Children do it in the playground. Football coaches do it on the sideline. Your voice already knows how.
In this one-hour workshop, we'll find out what's actually going on in the voice when singers belt, break it down into its building blocks, and have a go at each one together.
If you:
Love the sound of a big belt, but you're not quite sure what singers are doing to make it
Have heard all sorts of advice: belting is dangerous, you need huge breaths, it's chest voice pushed higher… and you're not sure what to believe
Get to the power notes, and your voice wants to flip, thin out or or feels tighter
Sometimes finish a powerful song feeling a bit scratchy or vocally tired, and you'd love to know how to make it feel comfortable
Have come from classical or choral singing and contemporary sounds like belting feel like a whole new language
… then this workshop could help! Belting is one of the most discussed and dissected sounds in singing - this workshop is here to get into it all and to give you the tools to do it.
Who it's for
This workshop is for singers who are new to belting or have dabbled a bit and want to understand it properly. It's ideal for singers in contemporary styles: pop, soul, rock, gospel and musical theatre. Classical and choral singers curious about contemporary sounds are very welcome too.
It's for all voices and all genders.
If you already belt confidently and want detailed, personalised fine-tuning, 1:1 lessons will be a better fit for you. [Link to 1:1 page]
What we'll cover
A gentle warm up: for body and voice to prepare for the work ahead
What belting is (and isn't): with examples
A whistle-stop tour of belting styles: Belting doesn't all sound the same, and that's part of the fun!
What's going on inside: a simple, picture-filled look at the anatomy and the acoustics. Geeky, but in a friendly way, I promise
The recipe: the ingredients of a belt, based on the Estill Voice Training™ model, and what each one adds to the sound
Have a go: playful exercises to try each ingredient, and ways to practice them
Keeping it comfortable: how to belt in a way that feels good for your voice, and when to rest
Q&A and cool down: time for your questions, then a gentle cool down so your voice has a chance to settle afterwards.
By the end, you'll
Know what belting is, what it isn't
Understand the building blocks that make up a belt sound
Have felt and tried each building block for yourself
Know how to practise them, including ways that don’t tire your voice out and aren’t all loud
Have a clear plan for your next steps, so you're well on your way to belting with confidence.
What's included
A 60-minute live workshop on Zoom, in a small group
A replay recording, available for 7 days after the workshop, so you can practise along again (or catch up if life gets in the way).
Plenty of space to ask questions in a friendly, judgement-free group.
About your teacher
I'm Laura Boon, a singing teacher, Estill Master Trainer and professional singer with over 20 years of experience on stage and in the studio. I’ve taught at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts for 4 years and I've helped over 100 singers find more freedom, power and joy in their voices. I love the science of singing and I love making it playful.
Price and booking
Only £30
Early bird price of £25 until midnight on Saturday 21st November using the code EARLYBELT at checkout.
Places are limited so everyone gets a chance to try things out and ask questions.
IMPORTANT: Belting is a high-intensity way of using your voice. In the workshop, I’ll ask you to only make sounds that feel comfortable. This workshop isn’t suitable if you have a current voice injury, a voice problem or a sore throat. If you have any other concerns about your voice, please check with a medical professional before booking. If your throat feels sore on the day, please rest your voice and watch the replay when you’re voice is better instead.