improvised singing course
Learn how to improvise songs and put them together into improvised musical scenes, stories and games.
Learn improvised singing and musical improv in a fun and supportive environment. Topics include improvised singing, scenes into song, duets, group singing, synchronised dancing, musical improv structure and improvised musical games, scenes and stories.
You’ll progress as a team week by week as you have fun learning how to improvise songs and then put them into all together into mini-musicals!
Only suitable for people with previous improv experience. If you haven’t got previous improv experience it’s best to start with our beginners improv course first and then do at least our Level 2 and 3 before this one.
No previous singing experience is needed to do this course. You don’t have to be able to sing to do this course!
dates, time, location
Dates:
Every Tuesday for 8 weeks from Tuesday 30th September 2025, plus show on Wednesday 19th November 2025. BOOK
Time: 7pm – 9:30pm.
Price: £240. Either payable all at once or £100 at time of booking and £140 when the course starts.
Teacher: Phil Lunn.
Venue: The Umbrella Rooms, 239-241 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8EH.
Tubes: Tottenham Court Road.
Dates:
Every Monday for 8 weeks from Monday 16th June 2025, plus show on Wednesday 6th August 2025. SOLD OUT
Time: 7pm – 9:30pm.
Price: £240. Either payable all at once or £100 at time of booking and £140 when the course starts.
Teacher: Phil Lunn.
Venue: Theatre Delicatessen Studios, 107 Leadenhall Street, EC3A 4AF.
Tubes: Bank, Liverpool Street, Fenchurch Street, Aldgate.
Only suitable for people with previous improv experience. If you haven’t got previous improv experience it’s best to start with our beginners improv course first and then do at least our Level 2 and 3 before this one.
No previous singing experience is needed to do this course. You don’t have to be able to sing to do this course!
teacher Phil Lunn
Phil has been improvising for over fifteen years, both on stage and behind the piano, and has been hugely influential in growing the London improv scene while performing with Hoopla since the start.
His solo improvised cabaret act, Phyllida Sings, tours to festivals across the world including Improfest Gothenburg, Amsterdam Festival, Out of Bounds Austin Texas, Brighton Fringe and Mount Olymprov Athens.
Phil has performed or been musical director for so much of the London improv scene including Sprout, AdLibretto, Grand Theft Impro, Multiverse, Music Box, The Inflatables and loads more! If there’s music, and it’s at Hoopla, Phil is probably involved!
“A powerhouse of musical improv” – Open Your Mouth And Sing
“Exciting and engaging” – Voice Mag
“The star of the festival” – Sirp Magazine, Estonia
He agrees with what Charlie Parker said about a different type of improvisation: “Master your instrument, master the music, then forget all that and just play.” It’s just as true for what we do.
topics
- Improvising singing.
- Rhythm.
- Setting up and making rhymes.
- Opening numbers.
- Tag lines.
- Verse and Chorus.
- Song structure.
- Improvised synchronised dancing.
- Scenes going into song.
- Musical improv games.
- Exploring patterns, relationships and themes in songs.
- Group songs.
- Solos.
- Duets.
- Improvised musical structure.
- Singing from the heart.
faqs
Do I have to have any experience of singing?
No, no previous singing experience needed whatsoever. You don’t need to be any good at singing to do this workshop.
What comes after this course?
We have a variety of other advanced improv courses that would be suitable.
Who is this suitable for?
People with previous improv experience who want to learn and experiment with musical improv.
How much improv or acting should I have done before doing this course?
You should have done our Level 1: Beginners Improv Course and also our Level 2 and 3 or a similar amount somewhere else. This course is not suitable for people new to improv. You should be comfortable with improvising scenes in front of a workshop audience and understand the fundamentals of listening, yes and, commitment and spontaneity.
Is there a show at the end?
For the 8 week version there is, but not for the 6 week version.
What if I can’t make every week?
As we’re forming a team over the course it’s best not to miss more than one session over the course. If you think you’ll miss more than one sessions over the course please wait until another time to do the course. To participate in the showcase, you will normally be required to have missed no more than two of the sessions.
What if I’m running late?
You’ll get the most from the course if you’re there each week at 7pm, and this enables us to form a team over the course. If you’re likely to be late each week please don’t book the course.
What’s the class size?
The group size is going to be limited to 14-16 people - small enough that you get lots and lots of practice and stage time, but big enough that there’s still a lively atmosphere in the workshop. It’ll be fun as we get to know each other and build a team together.
Can I pay by instalments?
Yes. You can book and pay half at time of booking and the rest at the start of the course, we'll email you a payment link at the start of the course for that.
Photos: Palli Kristmundsson, Swedish International Improv Festival.