UPCOMING WORKSHOPS WITH KAREN CLARK
Vocal Technique and Singing Early Music
Monday, June 8, 2026 from 11AM to 1PM
Singers of Early Music quickly discover that not all singing styles are identical. We train using vocal exercises to establish consistency and continuity throughout the vocal range. Ideally, the singer learns to discern and adjust the tone quality appropriate to the repertoire at hand. For instance, we recognize that the 19th-century opera or lieder voice is not the same voice for Machaut or Bach. However, how does this occur? In this lecture-demonstration and mini-workshop, Karen R. Clark, contralto and director of Vajra Voices, presents an overview and a method for approaching and embodying the requisite singing styles from chant to modern music. Drawing from her studies of sensory awareness, opera, and early music, and her 40-year career as a singer in repertory ranging from medieval to modern, Karen will provide brief introductions to singing medieval music from chant to Bach and offer vocal/awareness exercises she has developed with her students and for her own use.
All are welcome to attend. Singers of all levels: if you are comfortable singing to demonstrate in some of the exercises, please use the contact page on www.karenclark.studio website and share a bit about your background and any questions you may have.
Location: Berkeley Piano Club 2724 Haste St. Berkeley, CA 94704 Suggested fee is $20 and pay what you can.
SING FOR JOY! SUMMER VOICE CLASS SERIES ONLINE ONLY:
EMBODIMENT & VOCAL TECHNIQUE
MONDAYS, 5:30 - 6:30PM
Series A: July 13, 20, and 27
Series B: August 3, 10, and 17
Learn how your entire mind-body-spirit supports your singing and speaking voice. Each series of three classes focuses on a different aspect of the healthy use of your voice.
The class is comprised of vocal exercises combined with specifically tailored awareness lessons to bring more clarity of sensation and ease in breathing, posture, and the use of the speech articulators (palate, teeth, jaw, and tongue). You will learn to resonate, project, and use your voice effortlessly.
The cost for each series is $150 and includes
I welcome your questions and look forward to learning about your goals and favorite repertory. I realize it’s vacation time so please know that all classes will be recorded. So if you need to miss one, you’ll be able to access the recording.
EMBODIMENT & VOCAL TECHNIQUE
MONDAYS, 5:30 - 6:30PM
Series A: July 13, 20, and 27
Series B: August 3, 10, and 17
Learn how your entire mind-body-spirit supports your singing and speaking voice. Each series of three classes focuses on a different aspect of the healthy use of your voice.
The class is comprised of vocal exercises combined with specifically tailored awareness lessons to bring more clarity of sensation and ease in breathing, posture, and the use of the speech articulators (palate, teeth, jaw, and tongue). You will learn to resonate, project, and use your voice effortlessly.
The cost for each series is $150 and includes
- Three one hour online classes
- one private online 30-minute voice lesson/coaching
- access to class recordings and all materials.
- Vocal exercises to improve technique— sustained tones, agility, dynamics, and vocal range
- Sensory awareness lessons to improve air management, diction and effortless tone production
- Improve practice time — playful practice with clear objectives
- Find more joy in singing!
I welcome your questions and look forward to learning about your goals and favorite repertory. I realize it’s vacation time so please know that all classes will be recorded. So if you need to miss one, you’ll be able to access the recording.
Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 10 AM PST, FREE!
Singing Medieval Devotional Songs of St. Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)
Online Mini-Workshop with Vajra Voices' Karen Clark
In this hour Karen R. Clark, contralto and director of Vajra Voices, presents a brief glimpse of the medieval notation system, called “neumatic”, and the medieval way of learning music— by rote. We’ll learn in the medieval way— by rote— to sing Hildegard's antiphon to divine Love, Karitas Habundat in Omnia. We hope you will attend the workshop AND attend the Vajra Voices with Shira Kammen concerts where we invite you to SING ALONG in Karitas Habundat in Omnia. We look forward to sharing this music with you and passing on the LOVE that as Hildegard writes, exists in ALL.
CLICK TO REGISTER
Workshop handouts will include copies from the original manuscript and an edition created by Karen R. Clark.
Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 1 PM LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO
2515 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA
Karen returns to Many Voices, One Art workshops hosted the San Francisco Bach Choir.
Karen will lead a one-hour sing-along workshop featuring a beloved Medieval Music song.
REGISTER HERE
Singing Medieval Devotional Songs of St. Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)
Online Mini-Workshop with Vajra Voices' Karen Clark
In this hour Karen R. Clark, contralto and director of Vajra Voices, presents a brief glimpse of the medieval notation system, called “neumatic”, and the medieval way of learning music— by rote. We’ll learn in the medieval way— by rote— to sing Hildegard's antiphon to divine Love, Karitas Habundat in Omnia. We hope you will attend the workshop AND attend the Vajra Voices with Shira Kammen concerts where we invite you to SING ALONG in Karitas Habundat in Omnia. We look forward to sharing this music with you and passing on the LOVE that as Hildegard writes, exists in ALL.
CLICK TO REGISTER
Workshop handouts will include copies from the original manuscript and an edition created by Karen R. Clark.
Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 1 PM LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO
2515 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA
Karen returns to Many Voices, One Art workshops hosted the San Francisco Bach Choir.
Karen will lead a one-hour sing-along workshop featuring a beloved Medieval Music song.
REGISTER HERE
Private Studio Teaching: Voices Lessons available —in person and on Zoom
Karen is available for private lessons in her Oakland location on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesdays.
Maintain your progress with 30-minute or 45-minute voice lessons with Karen on Zoom. For rates and scheduling please fill out the contact form.
*The studio is equipped with an air purifier, open windows and cleaning products. Lessons will be scheduled to allow for at least 15 minute breaks between students. If for any reason you feel unwell in advance of or on the day of your lesson, please call to reschedule.
Karen is available for private lessons in her Oakland location on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesdays.
Maintain your progress with 30-minute or 45-minute voice lessons with Karen on Zoom. For rates and scheduling please fill out the contact form.
*The studio is equipped with an air purifier, open windows and cleaning products. Lessons will be scheduled to allow for at least 15 minute breaks between students. If for any reason you feel unwell in advance of or on the day of your lesson, please call to reschedule.
I can’t tell you how grateful I am to be making this progress with my voice and with my students. I gave an 8-hour chant workshop yesterday and it’s my first time teaching so long in the day that I haven’t had significant vocal fatigue by the end of the day! I also incorporated some of the exercises you’ve given me in the work, since the class was for professional singers. Thank you!
Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka,
Associate Professor of Music/Director of Sacred Music
Saint Patrick's Seminary, Menlo Park, CA
Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka,
Associate Professor of Music/Director of Sacred Music
Saint Patrick's Seminary, Menlo Park, CA
Coaching and Workshops for Choral and Ensemble Artists
Karen enjoys coaching choirs and ensembles in rehearsals and retreats. A favorite topic is Singers Diction: Work Smarter Not Harder!
Sensing the relationships between the articulators of speech takes some patience. But, the result is effortless clear diction and mellifluous phrasing.
Over the years Karen has had the pleasure to work with members of Chanticleer, San Francisco Choral Society, and the Redwood Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. In 2025, Karen presented Singing the Music of Hildegard von Bingen for Many Voices, One Art! hosted by the San Francisco Bach Choir.
Karen enjoys coaching choirs and ensembles in rehearsals and retreats. A favorite topic is Singers Diction: Work Smarter Not Harder!
Sensing the relationships between the articulators of speech takes some patience. But, the result is effortless clear diction and mellifluous phrasing.
Over the years Karen has had the pleasure to work with members of Chanticleer, San Francisco Choral Society, and the Redwood Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. In 2025, Karen presented Singing the Music of Hildegard von Bingen for Many Voices, One Art! hosted by the San Francisco Bach Choir.
MONDAYS, MARCH 10, 24, & 31, 2025, 5:30-6:30PM PDT
VOCAL TECHNIQUE FOR AGING VOICES
Vajra Voices director, Karen R. Clark presents this online— via Zoom— class sponsored by The Catholic Institute of Sacred Music.
CLICK FOR DETAILS
VOCAL TECHNIQUE FOR AGING VOICES
Vajra Voices director, Karen R. Clark presents this online— via Zoom— class sponsored by The Catholic Institute of Sacred Music.
CLICK FOR DETAILS
SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 2025
1PM to 2PM
As part of San Francisco Bach Choir's workshop series, Many Voices, One Art!
Vajra Voices director, Karen R. Clark presents a class on Singing the Music of Hildegard von Bingen.
Calvary Presbyterian Church
2515 Fillmore Street (@Jackson)
San Francisco
CLICK FOR DETAILS
1PM to 2PM
As part of San Francisco Bach Choir's workshop series, Many Voices, One Art!
Vajra Voices director, Karen R. Clark presents a class on Singing the Music of Hildegard von Bingen.
Calvary Presbyterian Church
2515 Fillmore Street (@Jackson)
San Francisco
CLICK FOR DETAILS
The recorded version of this workshop series is available for purchase. Select Contact from the menu to order. Thank you.
The Balanced Voice and Pure Tone Singing workshop series offers singers a process by which they can deepen and clarify their experience of themselves in singing with particular attention to the essentials in early and modern vocal styles. Vocal artistry involves refining technical skills so that the singer can be sensitive to the particular repertory, the instrumentation, the rehearsal room or concert hall, the conductor, and more. Karen Clark's approach allows (and requires) you to slow down and notice. Taking the time to learn in a comfortable environment (in the comfort of your own home) you will be better able to sense your breathing, your speech articulators (in a variety of languages), your readiness to sing and explore the part your imagination plays in developing more consistent vocal skills. Karen Clark infuses the depth and breadth of her 40-year performing and teaching career into this workshop for choral and ensemble artists of all levels. (Scroll down for a FREE SAMPLE CLASS!)
Areas of focus in this series are:
Areas of focus in this series are:
- Breathing
- The Speech Articulators
- Sensing vs. Thinking
- Vocal Freedom in Blending.
- An Awareness Through Movement lesson specific to vocal technique
- Vocal exercises for balanced tone production
- Vocal exercises specific to early music ornamentation and modern vocal styles
- Time for Q & A and discussion