In this video, Nancy Bos—a singing teacher, vocologist, alto section leader, and occasional choral director—addresses the burnout experienced by virtual choral directors during the fall. She introduces “Singing 101,” a series of three 30‑minute pre‑recorded classes (Breathing, Alignment, Resonance) designed to give singers foundational vocal training while freeing rehearsal time for social interaction or music rehearsal. The classes are highly interactive, vetted for accuracy by dozens of voice pedagogues affiliated with the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and can be used individually or as a bundled package. Bos emphasizes flexible pricing, offering a sliding‑scale option for institutions with limited budgets, and positions the courses as a way for directors to keep music alive without overextending themselves. A brief breathing exercise is demonstrated to illustrate the class style. Viewers are directed to NancyBos.me for enrollment and encouraged to contact her via email for questions or support.
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Hello, I'm Nancy Bos, singing teacher, vocologist, alto section leader, and sometimes choral director. When I began hearing about burnout from virtual choral directors this fall and the relentless demand on directors to hold rehearsals for the sake of keeping the music going, keeping people singing, and building community, on top of creating virtual resources and virtual performances, I realized I could help. With the encouragement of my choral director, I began work on 30-minute pre-recorded classes for choirs and individuals. The classes, called Singing 101, are meant to help singers with foundational skills while in virtual rehearsal and still allow for social time or music rehearsal before and after the video. The material in the course is highly interactive for the singer, and the material has been vetted for accuracy and implementation by by dozens of respected voice pedagogues in the National Association of Teachers of Singing. In short, the Singing 101 courses are a sure way to improve your singer's skills while you get a much-needed break. You can even ask someone in the choir to run the video for the choir while you take the rehearsal off. The 3 classes, Singing 101 Breathing, Alignment, and resonance are available individually or as a bundle for a lower price. I'm very happy to be able to help you and your singers during these challenging times. The price for the classes is a very good value for a choir, but please reach out for a sliding scale if your institution needs it. Helping you and your choirs to continue to bring music to the world is my highest priority. And I don't want cost to get in the way. The most important thing is to keep the music going while helping you keep your head above water. Here's a short segment of Singing 101 breathing so you can get a taste for the class. It's time to try the previous activity standing up. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Put your left hand on your belly and your right hand just below the right armpit. Inhale using a rich, full breath. Breathe normally here. Do you feel your belly go out when you breathe in? Check your shoulders. Are they moving? There's no right or wrong answer. The shoulders are probably not moving. They don't need to, so it'd be nice if you could relax your shoulders down and back Let's try that big Santa Claus laugh. Hand on the belly. Ho ho ho! Ho ho ho! Do you feel the tension in your abdomen when you do this? That is the tension we can use to control air coming out. If this looks like something that would fit the bill of giving you a break and add value to your choir, Visit NancyBos.me and click on courses or use the link below. Reach out to me directly if you have any questions at Nancy@StudioBos.com. I want to help you keep up the good work until we can all sing together in our communities again.
