Knowing the choral score creates understanding of the needed vocal pedagogy, a student-focus on the music, and a teacher-focus on choral pedagogy instead of classroom management. An approach to score study, vocal and choral pedagogy for adolescents, and how this focus can guide planning, teaching,and performance will be discussed in this session. Rehearsal strategies and […]
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Gospel Music and the Concert Stage: Understanding Style and Stage Presence When Performing Gospel Music
This session will delve into the practical approach of teaching and understanding Gospel Music and its unique styles and characteristics of diction/dialect, timbre, tempo,form, phrasing, instrumentation,and overall stage presence. This session is geared toward conductors and educators who seek to perform gospel music with authenticity. Attendees will be presented with a range of gospel choral […]
Good News from Haiti: The Choral Music of Emile Desamours and Sydney Guillaume
One of the keys to survival in Haiti is developing the ability to assimilate all kinds of seemingly contradictory influences. Haitian music is a prime example of this assimilation, existing in a variety of modes and reflecting a vast array of ancestors but still possessing a distinctive character. The music of Emile Desamours and Sydney […]
Game of Tones: Creative Ways to Explore Choral Sound
The physical processes that produce vocal tone are internal and largely invisible to singers. Choirs must use their imaginations to understand and explore concepts like support, focus, space, weight, and color. This session presents creative movements, images, activities,and vocal exercises appropriate for all ages and designed to promote healthy sound production and improve choral tone […]
Enhancing the Choral Art through Dalcroze Eurhythmics
The objective of this session is to introduce attendees to the Dalcroze approach and its application to the choral art by providing practical tools for enhancing rehearsals and performances. The goals of Dalcroze Eurhythmics are to develop and increase focus, rhythmic integrity, expression, musicianship skills,and social interaction. Implementing Dalcroze techniques in the choral rehearsal connects […]
The Engaging Choral Classroom: Capitalizing on Adolescents’ Enthusiasm in Middle School Ensembles
Choral teacher-conductors are fortunate to teach one of the most engaging of academic disciplines. This session will capitalize on this strength of our art, exploring repertoire, rehearsal techniques, and planning strategies for fostering engagement in middle school choral rehearsals. Attendees will participate in sample rehearsal experiences, each designed to highlight a specific type of engagement: […]