Catherine Matsou

Hi, I'm Catherine and I'm here to help you find your voice!!!

Online vocal-music-theatre tutor with more than 4 years of teaching experience and 10 years of professional lead singing offers professional voice training to all ages!

My Degrees:

-Master in Musical Performance (Kingston University of London )

-Contemporary Singing Degree "Grade Excellent" (Conservatoire Rythm, Greece )

-Bachelor and Integrated Master in Theatre Studies (Theater School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece )

More specifically: I am a graduate of Rhythm Conservatory of Greece, with a degree in contemporary singing with the grade of Excellent, as well as an MA in music graduate, entitled MA in Music Performance - Voice ( ) from Kingston University in London. My dissertation title is “Singing with Growl: Methods and Techniques”. My studies in vocals last more than 14 years ( ): Municipal Conservatory of Nea Ionia, Volos ( ), Conservatory "Rhythmos" of Volos ( ), Conservatory of Northern Greece (Thessaloniki ) and private tuitions with Evi Siamanta (Thessaloniki ), Ioli Skourti (Volos ) and Aliki Dourmazer-research of alternative ways of speaking and stage presence (Thessaloniki ), Susan Blair (modern vocals) and Meredith White (jazz -self-planning) ( ) in the context of my MA studies. I am a Bachelor and Integrated MA graduate of the Theater Department of the Fine Arts School in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki ( ): Dissertation on vocal techniques in musical theatre performance. To combine vocal art with other types of arts and to observe their interaction, I have been taught different types of dance from 2005 to 2017: Jazz, Oriental, Modern Dance, Latin, Contemporary, Ballet, Tango, and Musical Theatre. I have also attended piano, guitar, music theory, sound recording, and freehand drawing classes, as I have also participated in similar seminars. I teach one-to-one and group tuitions in Contemporary Singing, pop, rock, jazz improvisation, and folk. I address all ages.

Professional experience:

• Contemporary Singing Teaching (2016- today)

• Co-founder and instructor of St-Art2Play Voice and Theatre Group, Teaching Worldwide (2019-today)

• Live performances in various music stages in Greece, as a lead singer and piano accompanimentist. Organisation of various musical bands (Thessaloniki ).

• Musical performance: Member of the professional musical theatre group "K's Blink" at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall (December 2015, March 2016), participation in the World Musical Festival of AUTH. Upcoming performances at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall in February 2017.

• Studio recordings (home studios and professional): As a lead voice or vocal accompaniment (Thessaloniki ).

• Participation in Foustani’s art festival (August 2013). • Participation in the Open Salonica dance competition - 1st place in the Modern jazz category (Thessaloniki, March 2014).

• Performances at dance events with the modern jazz dance group "Avant-Garde" choreographed by Aspasia Vasilaki (Thessaloniki ).

• Member of the theatre group "Silent Applause" (Thessaloniki 2011) and the theatre group of the Department of Physics of Aristotle (Thessaloniki 2013).

• Cheerleader in the dance school "Chorus Line" (Volos, 2006).

• Director of a few-minute performances as part of Brecht's theatre school classes: "The Circle with the Chalk" by Brecht, "Unspoken Bond" by myself, and "Oblivion" with personal written text).

• Presentations of scenographic constructions, such as puppets, masks, stage objects, and trash art, some of which were presented in art exhibitions, in the context of theatre school lessons.

• Theatrical drama-play lessons for children and adults in the context of the theatre school.

• Participation in the annual music band competition at Eightball (Thessaloniki, 2014).

• Concerts as a choir member of: Mixed Choir of Thessaloniki (Thessaloniki Concert Hall-musical tribute to KP Cavafi, performed by lead singer George Dalaras in compositions by Alexandros Karozas) and Choir of Agios Kyrillos and Methodius (Thessaloniki 2014).

What you will learn in our lessons:

-Singing

-Stage Performance training

-The basics of voice training

-Deeper knowledge of anatomy, understanding of the vocal function of the body, auditory empowerment, and concentration techniques

-Voice protection techniques to avoid damage, Vocal health

-Research into alternating use of body resonators for corresponding changes in voice quality.

-Tips about nutrition, exercise, health, and lifestyle counseling.

-Combination, if desired by the student, of dance and theater techniques with singing.

-Provision of bibliography and support of assignments.

-How to use recording programs such as Cubase

-Acting- Theatre

-Physical Theatre

-Body and/or Voice Improvisation

-Accompaniment Piano

-Music Theory

-Vocal Analysis

My teaching approach centers on the character, existing knowledge, and the goals of the student. My priority is to support the uniqueness of each student. In my lessons, the rules of music work together with the individual elements of the student, so that they are an evolutionary incentive and not a limiting device. My goal is to promote the student's critical thinking so that he learns to function autonomously, having received a holistic knowledge of the body's function and psychology as vocal tools, treating the voice as a musical instrument.

Why would anyone prefer me: In my classes, I teach modern singing, the basics of vocal education, a deeper knowledge of the body function in relation to vocalisation (anatomy and understanding of vocal function in the body), and also voice awareness through the ear practicing and mind concentration. The vocal protection techniques are major to avoid damage to the vocal system, as well as the research on the human body resonations, which change the vocal quality, are important elements of the course. I also provide advice on nutrition, exercise, health, and lifestyle concerning vocal function. Finally, I emphasise, if this is desired by the student, in the combination of dance and theatre techniques with the voice. My teaching approach focuses on the nature, the already existing knowledge, and the goals of the learner. My priority is to support the uniqueness of each student. The rules of music cooperate with the individual elements of the student so that they become an evolutionary motivation and not a limiting means. My goal is to promote the student's critical thinking so that he/she learns to function independently, having received a holistic knowledge of the body's functionality and its psychology, seeing himself/herself as a vocal instrument, and treating the voice as a musical instrument.

Why I have chosen teaching (motivation, goals): I understand the educational process as a result of cooperation. Therefore, with the help of dialogue and meaningful communication, I aim to create a free field of expression for a student's needs.

Additional: I can also provide the student with personal notes, or support his/her individual research (ex. Dissertation, thesis, etc.).

Teaching online experience: I really love teaching online as this helps me communicate my art with people from all around the world. I am fully equipped with all the appropriate electronic fittings to make my lessons have the sense of a face-to-face teaching experience. That means I use two cameras to make obvious two different points of view and show the appropriate body posture for singing in the best way, I also use mirrors, books, and whiteboards to write down things about music theory, and of course my piano, microphones and amplifiers. I like to make sure that the students feel I am there, close to them, and feel as much content as they would be by doing a lesson at their home!