WHY WE STARTED THE NETWORK: VOCAL
The brain-child of Ruth, The Network: VOCAL came about as I saw my friends, colleagues, and students all making the same searches online for schools, summer schools, competitions and information, and becoming frustrated in the process. While there were many platforms that focus on graduates and professionals who are looking for work, there were no online platforms or forums for young singers to help them make informed decisions about their study and career choices, or where they could meet other young singers, ask advice, and make connections. I thought: why do thousands of students have to spend hours each year doing the same searches, isn’t there a better way?
And so, the first version of The Network: VOCAL was born. I couldn’t do it alone though, so with the help of my long-time friend, Emma, we started the mammoth task of building a platform with all the information young singers need in one place.
From my years working and speaking with vocal students, teachers and schools all over the world, I have seen and heard from many disillusioned singers who, after graduation, were not fully aware of what the industry asks of them and how they should have prepared for it. Many schools do not offer career skills courses, even fewer think it necessary for you to start preparing for it from your first year, but if you don’t know what options you have, or which steps to take, how will you focus your education to get there?
As a passionate advocate for peer-learning, and the development of autonomy, I wanted to create a safe space to help you help yourself which is all designed on a student-friendly budget. Learn to shape your own future by making informed decisions.
HOW IT WORKS
You can immediately start using the platform as the majority is free an open to use. Create your own profile and start interacting with fellow singers, join groups, ask questions in forums, search for your ideal school in our lists, follow one of the courses and build necessary skills for a healthy and happy career.
The Network: Vocal is built on 3 pillars inspired by our mission:
Empowering aspiring vocal professionals to explore their study and career options, and create their individual journey by informing, educating and fostering connections through our content packed platform and global network.
EMPOWER
Our first pillar is designed to make it possible for you to inform yourself. We have custom courses such as How to apply for a Bachelor/Master which will take you through the process of looking at your goals and motivation to find a school that aligns with your values, helping you prepare your CV and motivation letter, looking at what to expect during the audition day and more. There are other courses, articles, interviews with professionals, resources, templates and links to enable you to learn more about the industry and how to prepare yourself for it.
EDUCATE
Search through our exhaustive list of schools to find the perfect place for you. Use one of our custom filters, or choose your own and filter by country, course level, or teaching language to see options you might not have found yourself. We know it’s time-consuming and stressful trying to find out all the information you need (we know because we’ve searched almost 700 schools!), so don’t waste your own time, we’ve done all the hard work for you, all you need to do is click.
CONNECT
The most extensive of our pillars allows you to create your own profile, make friends, send messages, follow people, upload photos, updates and blog posts, start or join groups and forums, interact with other singers and ask questions about repertoire, what it’s like studying in a particular country, which pieces you should (or shouldn’t) sing at auditions, etc.
WHO WE ARE
We met while studying music at a conservatoire in London in 2007. We’re still friends despite all the ups and downs of university life, performing careers, holidays, more education, moving abroad (Ruth – Italy and The Netherlands), marriage and children (Emma), and now starting a business together. We run this platform next to our main jobs, it is a labour of love, and we’re working it out as we go along.
RUTH FRASER
Ruth grew up in the north of England and then studied Early and Classical voice in London, and The Netherlands, where she currently lives with her crazy cat Sherlock. By day, she works as a Vocal Department Coordinator at a conservatoire in The Netherlands, running all the departmental projects, teaching early career skills, guiding students on their study progress, developing the curriculum etc.
EMMA ELLIOTT
Emma studied at Chethams School of Music, Trinity Laban and did a Musicology Masters at King’s College London. Emma is currently trainging as a Maths teacher and is also studying accountancy. She lives in Kent with her husband and two beautiful little boys.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Network: VOCAL is currently in the very early stages of its life, we have lots of plans to further develop the platform and make it more relevant for both students and schools.
Our next phase of development will be to bring schools onto the platform so they can have their own pages and can communicate with students directly. Wouldn’t it be great if you could see the productions they’re doing, speak to current student ambassadors about what it’s like to study there, and find out all the updates first hand? We think it would be, so that’s what we’re currently working on.
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