There are 4 classes: Introductory, Intermediate, Advanced Intermediate and Advanced. Each level meets once a week for from 8 to 10 weeks, culminating in a 2-, 3-, 4- or 5-song performance.

A video camera is set up for each class session, as is an audio cassette recorder. Each student is encouraged to bring audio and video tapes to each class session to have his or her work recorded. In this way, he or she can review the progress made from week to week.

On the last day of this class, students rehearse their final performance in an authentic cabaret setting, working with a full complement of professional lighting and sound engineering. Then, showtime! The weeks of study come to a thrilling conclusion as the student singers perform for a house full of family, friends and fans. This memorable final performance is videotaped with each student receiving one copy.

This class is similar to the Advanced level of the General Performance Class, above, with the study period compressed into 7 days. It's perfect for interested students from out of the New York area.

For Advanced students, here's a chance to learn about and sing music in a number of different styles:

Swing
Jazz ballad
Latin
Pop/R&B
Novelty

This class meets for 6 weeks, with no stage performance. Students listen to songs in the various styles of music, and then discuss the distinctions. For each style, there are two songs chosen for personal study: one song is the choice of the student, and one is assigned by Ms. Baldassare.

This is a one-session class where students focus not on the performance of a song, but rather on the many different approaches to phrasing which are available to all singers. All students will work on three songs -- two chosen by Ms. Baldassare and a third which is student-chosen. Students learn that there are as many ways of phrasing a song as there are singers.

In this class, students learn about presenting music from the great Musical Theatre tradition. Students are encouraged to select songs sung by characters they might like to play, and to learn how those songs fit into the show from which they're drawn. Over a period of 10 weeks, students work on 3 solo songs (one of these assigned by Ms. Baldassare), and also a duet or trio and a group number. And in one class session, singers become dancers as Ms. Baldassare leads the class in learning some basic stage movement. As with other classes, a video camera and audio cassette recorder are employed to create a valuable record of each student's work.

This Advanced-level performance class continues to teach and build on the principles that are the basis for all classes offered at the CPW. But here the emphasis will be on the phrasing and tonality that come straight from the worlds of jazz and swing.

The instructor for this class is Frank Fontana, a veteran nightclub performer known for what one critic described as his "smooth, gentle, lilting jazz stylings." In his nightclub performances, Frank shares the stage with his music director Wells Hanley at the piano, and they're working together here in the Jazz Style class, as well. Wells is a rising star on the local cabaret scene, with a Master's degree in Jazz/Commercial Music from the Manhattan School of Music, and he's been a member of the CPW staff for a couple years. Finally, what cool jazz set is complete without a swinging upright bass? We're pleased to enlist the talent of Oslo, Norway native Eivind Opsvik, a fine musician who works with Frank and Wells in performance.

Jazz Style is a 9-week course, culminating in a cabaret performance where all students perform a 3-song set. This workshop is an advanced class which builds on the principles learned in the Introductory and Intermediate levels of the General Performance Class.  Completion of these preliminary classes is required for attendance.

For information about the fees for various classes, payment plans and our cancellation policy, please contact the Administrator of the Helen Baldassare Cabaret Performance Workshop.