How can we achieve an optimal vocal sound from our students? Learn how movement, solfège, vocalises, vowel choice, conducting gestures, and repertoire can transform the sound of your classroom singers and elementary choir. Hear the results as demonstrated on video clips from Theresa Derr’s non-auditioned school choir of students in grades 3-5.
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Immediate Video Feedback in the Conducting Classroom
Conducting is communication, often through physical gesture. Frequently, young conductors can verbally articulate the desired musical idea but have trouble communicating that clearly through physical motion. Incorporating immediate video-feedback in the conducting classroom can assist students with critical observations, self-reflection, and implicit understanding of their own gestures. Instead of recording a conducting example only to […]
Handel’s Messiah: Warm-ups for Successful Performance
Teaching singers the vocalisms of a choral masterwork can be assisted by using rehearsal warm-ups crafted from the composition itself. This session will use the choruses from Handel’s Messiah to demonstrate how easy it is to design repertoire-specific exercises and how using them can be much more effective than using generic warm-ups. Participants in this […]
The Engaging Choral Classroom (Kodály inspired for all ages)
This session will explore ways to kinesthetically engage and inspire singers in a choral setting. Solfège techniques, kinesthetic movement, a few warm-ups, motivation and management techniques, and word wall and brain break activities will be highlighted. This session is based on the premise that good repertoire selection has occurred, score study has informed the rehearsal, […]
The Contemporary Acappella Ensemble and its Role in the Choral Program
With the increased popularity from movies like Pitch Perfect, ensembles such as Pentatonix, and TV’s The Sing-Off; the contemporary unaccompanied ensemble has an opportunity to augment participation, patronage, and education in vocal/choral music. This session will present many of the major factors of establishing or maintaining these ensembles. Topics will include: repertoire, voicing, vocal percussion, […]
Considering the BIG questions
This session will provide sometime to think about the “why” and “what” we do in our work, in our relationships, and in our lives. Topics to be discussed will include balancing routine and spontaneity, investing time versus spending time, finding templates for making choices, moving from ideation to action, and looking for gifts in every […]
