I am glad to hear of your interest in attending the Sweetland Belt Teaching Institute to receive the Certificate of Sweetland Belt Instruction in June 2024! This year’s Institute will be located at Casa Nicola in the medieval town of Popiglio, Province of Tuscany, Italy.

Why The Sweetland Belt Technique?

Sweetland Belt is a complete singing technique that enables singers to realize the full stylistic potential of their voice, from the most extreme Rock Belt, to Pop, Broadway, and Country. But it is not just Belting. Sweetland singers develop a strong Legit that is appropriate for Golden Age Musical Theatre, Operetta, and Opera. It is the one technique that truly encompasses all styles of singing. Lee Sweetland developed the technique in the 1960s in Los Angeles, and had success with his students in Opera, Pop, Rock, and Broadway. His son Steve taught Opera singers in Germany and Denmark, Broadway singers in New York City, and Pop singers in Los Angeles. Sweetland singing is stylistically versatile, builds strength throughout the range of the voice, and is exceptionally healthy for the voice. With Steve’s blessing, I am attempting to make this technique known around the world.

Your Daily Routine

• Breakfast “on your own” with food options provided. Lunch and Dinner will be provided, communally prepared and eaten.
• Arrival June 11th, departure June 21st.
• June 12, 13, 14, you will be students. Each morning you will attend two classes that explore the principles of Sweetland Belt concepts, technique, and pedagogy. Afternoons you will take a 45-minute lesson with Dr. Patrick Newell. An accompanist will be provided. All instruction will be in English.
• June 15-20, you will be teachers. In the morning you will attend classroom instruction given to singing students in the program. In the afternoon you will teach singing lessons, under the tutelage of Dr. Newell, to a rotation of singing students. In the evenings we will have performance classes/workshops or unstructured free time.
• To complete your certification as a Teacher of Sweetland Belt, I will schedule monthly meetings to discuss your questions and continue to hone your understanding of the technique. If certain benchmarks have been met you will receive your certificate no later than April, 2025.
• Junior teachers, those with less than 3 years teaching experience, meeting the benchmarks of certification, will receive certification after three years of documented studio voice teaching at the private or academic level.

Costs and Travel

1. Dates: check in to Casa Nicola Thursday, June 13th. Departure Friday, June 21st. Classes are June 14th-20th.
2. Cost: USD $1,600 includes dormitory-style housing, all meals (lacto-ovo vegetarian), singing lessons, accompanist.
3. Travel: all costs of travel (airfare and ground transportation) are your responsibility. Detailed instructions for travel to Casa Nicola from Pistoia and Lucca to be provided when you commit. See below for airport options.
4. Insurance: you must provide proof of travel insurance, which includes health insurance, that covers at a minimum the dates of your attendance.
5. Emergency contacts: you must provide at least one emergency contact, email and phone number, who can be responsible in the event you become incapacitated.
   

To Apply

• Register here.
• Commitment deadline and non-refundable deposit of $250 due by May 15, 2024. Payment portal for the deposit is on thew registration page linked above.
• Full payment due by May 29, 2024 (no refunds after May 29, 2024)
• Please contact Dr. Patrick Newell at [email protected] for more information!
  

Things To Know

• Housing is dormitory style. You could have up to three roommates (same sex or gender inclusive, depending on your preference). You will have your own bed. If you are attending with a friend, you can request they be one of your roommates. (If communal living is not for you, Airbnb has some properties listed in nearby San Marcello Pistoiese. You would need a car or good bicycle to shuttle back and forth.)
• Casa Nicola is three separate houses, conjoined several years ago as a monastery, recently used as an arts colony. It can accommodate up to 20 people comfortably.
• We will practice communal living. Meals will be prepared, eaten, and cleaned up as a group. There are three kitchens; two of the kitchens will be available for use by guests for incidental meals and beverage preparation. The main kitchen will be overseen by a staff cook. Meal preparation assignments will be on a rotating basis.
• Three full bathrooms are available. Daily cleaning duties will be on a rotating basis.
• A clothes washer is available. Line-drying is the only option.
• Casa Nicola is not air-conditioned but should remain cool in June due to its elevation and the thick stone walls of the houses.
• Italy has very few accommodations for disabilities. The location has narrow cobblestone walkways, steep elevations, and numerous stairways.
• There is a modest above-ground pool on the property for our enjoyment.
• The surrounding area boasts a medieval bridge, medieval towers, and a long suspension bridge. The Romanesque-style church in town dates to before 1271.
  

Travel

• The nearest international airports are in Florence (FLR), Bologna (BLQ), or Pisa (PSA). Milan (MXP) often has the cheapest rates, but will require train connections to Pistoia, 4 to 5 hours’ travel. Rome is only 2 hours 30 minutes by train from Pistoia.
• Buses run from Pistoia and Bagni di Lucca to San Marcello (near Popiglio), where you will be picked up and driven to Popiglio. Taxi service can take you from Pistoia direct to Popiglio and may be worth the cost for a small group.
• Google maps is the starting place for more details. Since the bus timetable sometimes changes month by month, in early June I will provide very detailed instructions to get from Pistoia or Bagni di Lucca to San Marcello/Popiglio.