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Immersion in vocal pedagogy

The AIMS Vocal Pedagogy Program offers a unique opportunity for advanced students on a pedagogical path and teachers in the early years of establishing an academic career. Participants will gain knowledge to expand and refine their teaching repertoire and skills by observing the exceptionally high teaching quality of the AIMS voice teachers. Additionally, the compact nature of the AIMS program facilitates immense progress in the voice participants, and the voice participant population ranges from basic talent to pre-professional quality voices. The pedagogy participants will be exposed to a wide range of talent and definable vocal progress during the program.

Pedagogy participants rotate daily (Monday – Thursday) in a set sequence among four voice studios. This daily rotation provides the advantage of seeing the weekly progress of individual voice participants and adaptations in teaching strategy. Vocal Pedagogy participants will also have Voice Studio Class observation opportunities rotating through the four studios and a one-on-one consultation/Q&A session with each voice teacher they observe.

Participants from all countries are welcome to apply for the Vocal Pedagogy program.

Pedagogy participants will have the opportunity to observe voice lessons of singers in both the Lieder Studio program which concentrates on German Lieder, and singers in the Opera Studio which focuses on operatic arias. All AIMS participants may attend guest artist master classes, special event lectures, piano concerts, and AIMS Festival Orchestra concerts.

The Cost

Tuition: $5000 USD (due May 15)
Administrative Fee: $45 (non-refundable and due at time of application material submission – no other money is due until after acceptance into the program)
Application Fee $250 (non-refundable, submitted after acceptance into the program)
Tuition Deposit $300 (due at time of acceptance, applied toward cost of tuition)
Included in your tuition:
  • A single dormitory room in Graz
  • Daily breakfast
  • Lunch Monday – Friday
  • Health insurance while in Austria (AIMS tuition covers the majority of the Health Insurance cost. A Health Insurance fee of $25 is required from all participants.)
Not Included:
  • Roundtrip airfare
  • $50 Travel Visa Processing Fee (This fee is only for participants whose citizenship requires a visa to enter Austria.)
  • Incidental expenses ($1000 to $1500 on average)
    • Evening meals and snacks & beverages
    • Streetcar/bus tickets and travel within Austria
    • German text book, photocopies of music
    • Incidental expenses like laundry

Click HERE to read the AIMS Limits of Responsibility

The Curriculum

The following courses are offered:

  • Observation of four AIMS voice studios (daily set rotation)
  • Observation of four AIMS voice Studio Classes (weekly set rotation)
  • One-on-one consultation/Q&A session with each teacher observed
  • Conversational German (Monday through Friday)
  • Speaking Lieder Lyrics
  • Poetry of the German Lied
  • Master Classes

Financial Aid

Limited financial aid is available. Contact the AIMS office at [email protected] for details.

Fund your AIMS Experience

Hundreds of participants have successfully funded their AIMS experience through fundraising. Learn how you, too, can raise the money to help cover the cost of your travel and tuition.

View the Fundraising Guide