A solo singing section for young dancers and performers, up to three minutes per song and marked out of 100, run in age divisions from 6 and under to Open Age.
Vocal is the singing section of a dance and performing-arts programme. Where most of the programme asks entrants to move, this class asks them to sing, usually a song from stage or screen, a popular number or a piece chosen to show off the voice. It exists because many young performers in these programmes train in singing alongside dance and acting, and the organiser wants a place where the voice is judged on its own.
A round is one solo. The entrant is announced, steps to the front, sings to a backing track or an accompanist and leaves; the adjudicator marks as the song happens. On the template that carries it, the section is for individual entrants only, boys and girls together, with a limit of three minutes per song and a mark out of 100. There is no required language, so the choice of song is the entrant's own within the organiser's syllabus.
A strong entry is a short, complete performance rather than a fragment of a longer song. It has a clear start, a controlled build, a deliberate ending and a voice that stays in tune from the first line to the last. Because the section sits beside dance sections in the same programme, many entrants also carry the song with some acting and facial expression, though the mark is for singing.
Organisers include a vocal class so that a performer who is not entering a dance routine still has a place in the day, and so that a triple-threat performer can be rewarded across singing, dancing and acting. It also gives parents and teachers a simple, time-boxed solo class that is easy to schedule between larger troupe items.
Where Vocal is run
The section appears on four dance-competition templates in the library, all of them Australian: a dance challenge, two talent-and-dance competitions and a smaller dance competition. In each it is a solo-only class under the Music category, three minutes long and marked out of 100, with a different set of age and level divisions depending on the template. Singing classes sit beside dance in performing-arts festivals in many countries, but this page describes the section as those templates define it.
- Australia
Key facts
- Solo-only: every division on the templates is Individual, with boys and girls competing together.
- Time limit of 3 minutes per song, marked out of 100 under the label Marks.
- Language is set to any, so the song can be in whatever language the organiser's syllabus allows.
- Divisions vary by template: on one it runs from Solo 6U to Solo 16U plus Open Age; on others it is split further into novice, intermediate or advanced levels.
- The templates print no judging criteria for this item, so none are installed and the adjudicator's own sheet decides.
- Idea starters, not rules: a show tune sung with a simple story and one clear change of mood, a slow ballad that builds to a held final note, or a light up-tempo number with a marked pause before the last chorus.
On eTalenter, Vocal is filed under Music and typically scored with Marks. It appears in 4 ready-made event templates — each one can adjust its time limit, age-group assignment and scoring setup independently.
Across the templates that use it, Vocal is most often entered as an Team competition, typically scored out of 100, commonly time-limited to 3–5 minutes where a limit is set.
What judges look at in Vocal
What a Vocal panel is actually weighing up, and where the marks are usually won or lost:
- Pitch and tuning: notes are on pitch from the first phrase to the last, including after a breath or a jump in the melody.
- Tone and breath control: a steady, supported sound, with phrases finished rather than dropped, and no strain on high or long notes.
- Diction and meaning: words are clear enough to follow, and the singer shows they understand what the song is saying.
- Rhythm and timing: the singer keeps with the backing track, enters on the right beat and does not rush or drag.
- Performance and communication: expression, eye contact and stage presence carry the song, while the mark stays with the voice and the choice of song suits the singer's age.
Treat these as the judging focus, not a fixed rubric: publish your own weighted criteria for Vocal under Scoring Setup, or start from the full singing competition judging criteria guide.
How to prepare for Vocal
How entrants and their teachers usually get Vocal right on the day:
- Choose a song that sits comfortably in your range; a simple song sung accurately scores better than a showy one that strains the voice.
- Learn the words so well that you are thinking about the meaning, not remembering the lines.
- Time the song with your backing track and cut it to fit inside three minutes with a few seconds spare.
- Check your backing track on the venue's sound system or a similar speaker before the day, and bring a copy on a second device.
- Warm up the voice quietly before your turn and drink water, but avoid shouting at the venue beforehand.
- Practise the entrance, the first line and the bow so you start calmly and finish cleanly.
- Check the syllabus for the age division and make sure your age on the stated date matches the section you enter.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vocal judged individually or as a team?
Across eTalenter's templates it's most often run as an Team entry, though an organiser can set either participation type when assigning the item to an age group.
Is Vocal a solo or a group section?
On every template that carries it, Vocal is a solo section. Groups sing in other sections if the organiser offers them.
How long can the song be?
Up to three minutes in every division on the templates, marked out of 100.
Do I sing live or to a backing track?
The templates do not say. Check the organiser's current syllabus for rules on backing tracks, accompanists and microphones before you enter.
Is Vocal the same as Triple Threat Own Choice?
No. Vocal is judged on the singing alone, while Triple Threat Own Choice is a musical-theatre solo that combines dance, character and sometimes song.
Want the full judging picture? Read the full singing competition judging criteria guide, or browse every music competition item.
Try Vocal in eTalenter
See every ready-made template that runs Vocal, and install one as a live event — age groups, rules and scoring included.
