The New CCM Voice Pedagogy Institute

Registration is now open for the CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute.
This year, we’re excited to introduce an updated curriculum that deepens our commitment to hands‑on learning and artist‑driven singing.

Our flipped‑classroom model lets you absorb and revisit core concepts at home, so that when you arrive on campus, the real work can begin. Together, we’ll apply those ideas through practical, guided exercises while exploring how to analyze, evaluate, and create new strategies in real time to meet each singer’s artistic goals and individual needs.

You’ll learn a flexible template for working with CCM singers designed to accelerate learning, enhance outcomes, and protect vocal health, all while staying stylistically authentic, culturally aware, and grounded in human‑centered teaching.

And perhaps best of all, you’ll join a community of teachers from across the country who share your passion for helping the next generation express the human experience through song. Many of our participants stay connected long after the summer ends.

If you’re looking to strengthen your pedagogy while reigniting your love for teaching, we’d love to welcome you this summer in beautiful Wi******er, VA, for nine days of exploration and discovery.

Can’t join us in person? Join us online. We offer seven continuing‑education courses and one in‑person intensive in musical theatre styles.

Learn more at

The New CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute at Shenandoah Conservatory, a Voice Pedagogy Workshop for Teachers Who Train Commercial and Musical Theatre Performers The New CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute is a voice pedagogy workshop focused on training teachers in the science, pedagogy, and artistry of non-classical singing styles, more commonly known as Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM). All courses offer graduate credit.

Congratulations to Melissa Cross, this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award honoree!

The award, presented annually to honor a legendary figure in voice pedagogy, recognizes the lifetime contributions of pioneering voice teachers. A classically trained singer turned extreme vocals coach, Cross developed the Zen of Screaming training program to help heavy metal artists. The program was one of the first of its kind, helping singers learn to use vocal distortions in a sustainable way that empowers them to perform without fears of vocal injury. Over the course of her career, she’s helped thousands of singers and teachers and over 250 internationally recognized recording artists including Anthrax, Megadeath, Brandi Carlile, Courtney Love, Maroon 5, Greta Van Fleet, Halestorm, Lamb of God, and many others. She has presented at the National Association of Teachers of Singing National Conference, Voice Foundation Annual Symposium, and for many other professional voice associations and universities. Cross was joined by Garrett Russell, lead singer of Silent Planet, who provided live demos and talked with participants about Cross' impact on his career.

Previous honorees include: Dr. Robert Sataloff (2017), Prof. Mary Saunders-Barton (2018), Dr. Ingo Titze (2019), Prof. Lynn Helding (2022), Prof. Peggy Baroody (2023), and Prof. Kenneth Bozeman.

The recording of the BAM Webinar with Alison Crockett is now available! Feel free to share with anyone who would benefit from the information.

CCM Institute Black American Music Webinar Matt Edwards sits down with Alison Crockett to discuss how Black American Music (BAM) traditions differ from European traditions and why that matters when te...

Join Artistic Director Matt Edwards next Friday for a FREE webinar! Register at ccminstitute.com/webinar