SLS Around the World


For decades, Speech Level Singing (SLS) has been crossing vocal bridges, producing balanced, connected voices. Today, the organization is crossing geographical bridges as well, connecting voices in a much broader sense through its worldwide network of instructors and students.

The objective is simple: to make top-quality SLS training available to as many people as possible. The methods, though not as simple, have been well worth the effort. There are currently over 100 certified Speech Level Singing instructors worldwide, with about half as many in pre-certification. To maintain purity and integrity in the method, SLS Instructors must submit to a rigorous certification process, stringent regulations, annual reviews, and continuing education.

Enter the Instruction Management Team (IMT). As part of this vast educational effort, members of the IMT travel extensively to offer master classes, vocal workshops, teacher training and private instruction. These master classes, comprehensive four-hour sessions that teach the fundamentals of sound, voice, and song, have taken place in Austria, Germany, Poland, Scotland, England, Canada, Australia, Japan, Singapore and throughout the United States. Both instructors and singers from all over the world now have the opportunity to learn the artistry and business skills of professional musicians. In the process, they acquire a supportive network of contacts with singers and professional teachers all over the globe.

Such was the case when IMT Jeffrey Skouson recently traveled to Poland to present master classes, train students and work with the SLS community there. The young and enthusiastic group of Level 1 and 2 teachers who participated thoroughly enjoyed meeting Jeffrey and learning more about SLS.

"It was a life-altering experience," explained Jeffrey. "I was very impressed by the warmth and enthusiasm of the students there. The singing was great. There were students from all over the world: Poland, Ireland, and even Uruguay."

Sonia Lachowolska, who, along with Paulina Kujavaska, coordinated Jeffrey's visit, said, "It was a very international workshop. There were people from Ireland, England, Austria, and Latonia. But, in spite of that, we felt like one big family."

The students were equally pleased. Andres Martorrel a talented Uruguayan vocalist and teacher living in Ireland wrote: "I flew from Ireland to Krakow to participate in Jeffrey Skouson's workshop. Once there, my voice was naturally tired from all of the traveling, but after my first class with Jeffrey my voice was totally recovered. After my private lesson, we had a very well-organized workshop where we learned so many new things about SLS in theory and practice. In just a couple of hours, I had my notebook full of notes. Now, 3 months after, I'm still practicing all of the useful things I learned there. It was a very productive trip."

Luba Korolczuk, another Polish singer, wrote: "It was my first SLS workshop. I compare it to 'an awakening.' For me it is a thing of a great importance to finally have a consciousness of my voice: its objective value, its strengths, as well as its deficiencies on which I should work most intensely. I am enormously thankful I had the opportunity to experience it."

Jeffrey Skouson is the third IMT to visit the SLS community in Poland. Since SLS was introduced in Poland in 2002, Dave Stroud and Dean Kaelin have also made visits. Skouson is scheduled to return to Europe in November 2006. In addition to this and other regularly scheduled IMT appearances around the globe, Seth Riggs Voice Camp is planning to expand into other U.S. cities and offer camps in England and France in the near future. SLS is committed to creating opportunities around the world for high quality vocal education that transcends musical styles, cultures and nationalities, making singing as easy as speaking in any language.