Sing Up

Lin Marsh is one of the country’s most well respected singing leaders and trainers. She trained at Trinity College of Music and London University and has worked extensively in music education. She runs singing, performance and composing courses throughout the country and some are available through the Sing Up website. Here we talk to her about the importance of inspiring others to sing, and the need for quality vocal leadership.

Is high-quality vocal training vital for vocal leaders?

I think very few people actually get vocal training for themselves, as part of their own development. I think most people want to sing better and understand how their voice works so they can make a better sound. That applies as much to conservatoire musicians as it does to a five year old who’d like to be able to sing a song better. Not many people have had access to vocal training – I think there’s a big need for it.

Is there a particular element of vocal training that you’re especially passionate about?

Being able to inspire and encourage singers! You have to be able to inspire, otherwise it’s a very dry and boring and anatomical thing.

Do you think good-quality vocal leadership is as important in an informal singing session as it is with a competition-standard choir?

It depends on what you mean by quality. I think that quality of people skills and empathy and encouragement is every bit as important in an informal setting as it is at a high-level competition setting. It’s about drawing out those people and making them feel safe. There’s quality of musicianship too, in whatever genre. So it doesn’t mean that you’ve got to be a great conductor or that you’ve got to be a great sight reader. There are wonderful gospel singers who teach everything by rote, but their musicianship and their ability to engage people are qualities we’ve got to be after in a leader, I think.

What qualities do you think are important in a vocal leader?

It’s someone who’s passion about it! Somebody who loves people and singing. Somebody who knows their repertoire thoroughly and is an excellent communicator.

You run Sing Up’s ‘Going for Quality’ training course. What does the course cover?

It’s understanding how the voice works, and what a wonderful instrument it is. It’s exploring different vocal colours, so whatever song you’re singing – you can sing it in an appropriate style. That could be a beautiful classical piece by John Rutter, or it could be something from Annie or Guys and Dolls! It doesn’t matter what kind of vocal music you’re singing – it’s being able to get inside it musically and vocally. If you don’t understand how the voice works, then when children shout and get sore throats, or you get a sore throat, you don’t know how to put it right.

What skills do you need to lead primary school singers as opposed to any other age group?

Apart from enthusiasm, it’s understanding safe and healthy singing. You need a real love of children and a joy of sharing singing with them. It has to be those things. You have to be excited about doing it!

Book onto one of Lin’s ‘Going for Quality’ courses by visiting the Training Area of the Sing Up site.