Some Background before you enrol:

The Karen Knowles Singing School (KKSS) is a leader in the provision of singing training for children and adults in Melbourne. Founded and directed by Karen Knowles, one of Australia’s most respected singers and performers, the School began operations in September 2004 and now has classes offered at four locations in Melbourne with a new Flemington location recently added in 2009.

The School’s aim is to ensure that every student comes away from each singing class or workshop with knowledge, fulfillment, affirmation and the joy of self expression.

The unique integration of quality vocal training, musicianship, and performance training has enabled KKSS to develop an extensive array of classes and workshops suitable for beginners, adults who have always loved music and singing but never managed to try it, to singers who are serious about singing as a career and wish to focus on developing their vocal and performance skills. Karen’s background and vocal training includes 7 years classical training, 5 years music theatre training and her 30 year on stage career; all senior KKSS teachers have completed a 3 year singing and music degree at either Victorian College of the Arts, Monash University or WAAPA (West Australian Academy of Performing Arts) and are performers in their own right.

The individual classes are as the name suggests, tailored to each individual’s voice, style and the KKSS teachers work to ensure each student develops their own style. The Sunday Breakfast Club and Saturday afternoon classes are our entry level classes where the focus is on enjoyment, familiarisation with vocal technique and they give children a good opportunity to try singing in a group (from between 4 to 10 students) to see if singing is something they wish to pursue

Karen Knowles has developed the philosophy of the school, sourced and selected suitable teachers and has set up the internal structures for the business using her legal training. Karen oversees the qualitative standards and approves the content of all new classes and workshops run at the School.

All styles of music are covered at the School including pop, rock, jazz, music theatre, acappella; Brazilian, Portuguese, African, Indigenous Australian and African music. Songwriting is also incorporated into our holiday workshop program (run in the March and September school holidays) and many of our term classes. There has been a very positive response to this from students. We are very glad to provide a platform to foster students self expression.

It is Karen's belief that the student's natural voice should lead their vocal development and the School's teachers work to ensure that happens. Some students may wish to sing solely for enjoyment, others may choose to follow music as a career. All paths are individual and equally valid and the School aims to tailor tuition according to the individual requirements of each student.

Students are invited to perform at Mid Year and End of year Concerts. Karen Knowles or one of the School’s other senior teachers works with all participants in a performance workshop/masterclass leading up to the concert performances. (see Concert Page)

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