Teaching philosophy
As a teacher of applied voice, I try to treat each student as an individual course of study unto themselves. Because each student enters the voice studio with not only their own unique vocal instrument, but also with their own unique style of learning, it becomes my responsibility as a teacher to adapt instruction to suit the singer’s instrument as well as their style of learning.
A student’s individual vocal technique is the product of various learned physical habits with which they produce their singing voice. In beginning singers, these habits often do not lend themselves to an efficient vocal production. I hope to help students cultivate a new set of vocal habits, habits which will eventually enable them to focus on the communicative aspects of their singing performance rather than just the technical. Any approach to singing is a delicate balance between technique and art, and it is through a sound technical foundation that a singing artist can grow and begin to touch an audience.
When a student first enters vocal study in my studio, I explain that I am not there to turn them into an “opera singer” or fit them into some premade mold of what a singer “should” be. My ultimate goal is to help a singer discover how to sing as efficiently and healthily as possible. In this way, the student artist is free to apply their voice to professional or amateur performance, teaching, or whatever craft they so desire.
I am available for individual vocal instruction in the Denver-Boulder, Colorado area as well as for master classes both locally and nationally. I have reasonable rates for half-hour and hour lessons and accept students by audition. Please contact me using the "Contact" link on this webpage.
--Dr. Bradley Thompson
Teaching biography
Lyric baritone Bradley Thompson joined the faculty of the Metropolitan State College of Denver in 2003. As an Instructor of Voice, Dr. Thompson has taught courses in applied voice, class voice, and opera studies. He has served as the staging and musical director in programs of opera scenes as well as full opera productions. In 2007, Dr. Thompson was the musical director and conductor for the world premiere of The Lady or the Tiger at Metro State. He has appeared with the Metro Symphony Orchestra as a solo faculty artist in performances of Haydn’s Nelsonmesse and Requiems by both Mozart and Fauré. He has presented master classes at both the Denver School of the Arts and Colorado State University. He is also in demand as an adjudicator and evaluator, having done so for organizations such as Colorado Humanities and Classical Singer magazine.
Bradley Thompson received training as an apprentice both with Opera Colorado and the Utah Festival Opera and now performs as a member of the Central City Opera Ensemble. He has been a member of the applied voice faculty of the University of Colorado Division of Continuing Education and a voice instructor for the Younger Generation Players. His awards include both the Galen and Ada Belle Spencer Voice Fellowship and the Frank and Gina Day Voice Teaching Fellowship from the University of Colorado. He has appeared in master classes with Martin Isepp, Louise Toppin, and Thomas Hampson. Dr. Thompson’s principal voice teachers have included Patrick Mason, Dr. Ramon Kyser, and the late Enrico di Giuseppe.
Dr. Thompson received his undergraduate degree from Furman University (magna cum laude) where he was inducted into the national society of Phi Beta Kappa. His post-graduate education continued at the Florida State University and the University of Georgia where he was awarded the School of Music Director’s Excellence Award. He received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado. He is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda national music honor society, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity for men in music, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing.