The Vocal Masterclassics Ground-Breaking Drop-Down Search Menus
Master-Artist Name – Pick an artist from the hundreds of choices.
Master-Artist Voice Type – A menu offering not only the standard voice categories such as soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone, etc., but also additional titles such as conductor, collaborative pianist, and opera manager.
Genre – This is the category with the widest scope ranging from Italian Baroque Opera to interviews and career discussions. When used in combination with the other menus, the possible results are nearly endless.
Performer Voice Type – A very popular category because singers often highly benefit from viewing instruction given to voice types similar to their own. In addition, all present and aspiring vocal instructors are provided the opportunity of shoring up weaknesses by viewing instruction of voices with which they are least familiar.
Aria/Song Title – This is one of the most popular menus, as singers and teachers can pin-point actual titles to view like never before. Many times, a single title will yield numerous masterclass performances of the same piece. For example, choosing “Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante” from Bizet’s Carmen will result in at least six masterclass performances; and consequently, six different master artists providing their instruction of this famous aria.
Encompassing Work – A tool that allows for the potential study of all the arias/songs available from an entire work spanning multiple masterclasses. For students doing role study or concert preparation, to view multiple sessions of all the arias/songs from a particular work (not just those for their own voice) in which they will be performing is invaluable.
Composer – Probing a rapidly-expanding list of composers, this menu is an excellent resource for vocal literature courses, as it may be used to study a
particular composer’s most famous arias/songs and the intricacies of performing in a particular composer’s style.
Venue – An overview of this category will greatly inform regarding the primary centers of vocal masterclass work around the world. In addition, there are a number of institutions that specialize in certain styles/genres of literature, so taking special note of these can prove very beneficial.
Date – It is often helpful to know when certain events occurred for multiple reasons. Of course, this tool can be used in tandem with all of the others to narrow searches.
The 10th Tool – The Keyword Search – This tool can be used separately or in combination with any of the other menus. Many simply like to bypass all other tools and go immediately to typing in what they desire to find.
Dynamic Drop-Down Menu Combinations: Joining Menus for Specific Results
The Vocal Masterclassics Drop-Down Menus start to really get exciting when you use them in combination! If you take a moment to think about it, since you can combine any or all of the menus per search, there are literally hundreds of possible combinations! Here are some of the most popular and helpful.
Genre with any other category – This is the category with the widest scope. When used in combination with the other menus, the possible results are nearly endless.
Master Artist Name – Performer Voice Type – Sometimes it is helpful to hear a famous artist provide instruction to someone who matches your own voice type or to a particular voice type about which you desire to learn more. This can be especially enlightening. Try adding Genre and/or Aria/Song Title categories to this as well.
Master Artist Voice Type – Performer Voice Type – This is perhaps one of the most used combinations, most often to find artists teaching students of like voice type to the viewer.
Aria/Song Title – Master Artist Name – Looking for times when a famous artist is instructing a singer in an aria from an opera, musical, or popular song for which they are famous can prove especially enlightening.
Master Artist Name or Master Artist Voice Type – Composer or Encompassing Work – Certain artists have become specialists in specific roles or works by particular composers. Using this combination will narrow the field to classes where those particular artists (or artist voice types) teach from those specific works.
Composer – Performer Voice Type – This is a fabulous combination for literature study and finding new repertoire suited for a particular voice. For example, choosing Mozart and soprano will yield a veritable smorgasbord of choices for study.
Encompassing Work - Performer Voice Type - Certain song cycles, oratorios, and even operas specialize in certain voice types. For example, choosing the opera, “Carmen” and “Mezzo-soprano” would yield all of Carmen’s arias.