This session will present developmental strategies that support access for all people who want to join a choir. Foundational to this goal is the assumption that adding singers who need help transitioning into a choir will in no way diminish the performance success of the group. After examining three populations, session participants will learn creative […]
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The ABC’s of Pop A Cappella
Due to the popularity of Pitch Perfect, The Sing-Off , and Pentatonix, Pop A Cappella has become a rising trend. These ensembles offer many of the same challenges presented in traditional choral music while making the choral art more attractive to hesitant budding musicians. This session will offer information to choral directors who desire to […]
When Your Choir is too Tired to Phonate and You Need to Rehearse….!
If your choir is “sung out,” either too exhausted or vocally impaired to sing well, this session will provide exercises and demonstrations that will release laryngeal tension, relax the vocal folds, improve breath flow, assist phonation, give singers a new way to experience resonance on their own—using inexpensive materials—and help rebuild healthy vocal habits. Everything […]
What is My Larynx Doing? Developing Vocal Technique Awareness in Young Boys
Through Carlos Vieira’s work at Minot State University, he has realized that young singers need a basic understanding of the function of their larynx to provide the foundation of a healthy vocal technique. This workshop will focus on introducing the larynx to your singers with exercises to feel and map the larynx, explore its many […]
Warming up Your Adolescent Voices: A “How-To” Guide
In this “nuts-and-bolts” session,we will explore the issues and challenges of the adolescent voice. We will discuss such topics as why we warm up, a basic warm-up outline, and some common mistakes we all make. We will examine and sing through exercises that address a variety of vocal challenges. We will also explore which keys […]
Vocal Jazz Improvisation for New Improvisers
Have you ever wished you could improvise or teach your singers to improvise? Does improvising in front of others or the thought of teaching singers to improvise scare you? This session includes a set of strategies and ideas that Sharri VanAlstinehas learned, used, and developed in the last six years to understand and vocal jazz […]


