Young vocalists who do not have yet a suitable preparation for direct admission to the Academic courses can start the study path from the Pre-academic / Foundation course, with a duration ranging from 1 to 3 years, strictly dependent on the level of access and individual study rhythms.
For 40 years the pre-academic course has represented Saint Louis’ strength to acquire high-level preparation for admission to limited number academic courses.

The course aims to prepare for admission to academic courses, whose entry level requires a perfect knowledge of the vocal technique, which will allow the student to face any style and language with awareness, making the most of the full voice with the technique of the change of register, the half voice, the compressed voice. This correct setting also allows the vocalists to safeguard the vocal cords over the years.
The study of contemporary harmony goes from the basics to the 5-voice chords, with tensions and alterations, altered scales, modal exchanges and harmonization techniques of melodies. The Ear training course will bring each student to know how to recognize melodies, chord progressions, rhythmic patterns, up to develop the ability to transcribe a mini-song, without the aid of tools.
Each student will follow a double weekly singing lesson, an individual one for the study of the technique and one in small classes of 3 singers where to customize their style, expand the repertoire, being able to choose one’s own teacher.