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 […]
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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: […]
Discovering Talent: Strategies to Recruit New Students into the School Choral Program
As choral directors, we are always exploring ways to recruit singers and increase enrollment in our programs. At a time when students are inundated with a variety of courses and activities, how can we encourage them to try singing in a choir? This session will focus on identifying and developing recruitment efforts that appeal to […]
Composition in the Choral Music Classroom: Lessons from a Composer-in-Residence Songwriting Workshop for Elementary Choristers
For the past fifteen years, choral composer Jim Papoulis has traveled biennially to the Chicagoland area to engage the North Shore Country Day School Lower School Chorus in three-day songwriting workshops. Based on ethnographic research conducted during the 2017 Songwriting Workshop, this session will explore the process of collective songwriting in the choral music classroom […]
