British Choirs on the Net

Choral Conducting Courses & Training

 
2010

An apportunity for conductors (experienced and inexperienced) of choirs of all kinds, to be run by the Association of British Choral Directors and Making Music in the north.  

Project in 3 parts:

13 March, at The Sage Gateshead - observe a rehearsal with Simon Halsey and the Northern Sinfonia Chorus of Howard Goodall's Eternal Light and Durufle's Requiem.

17 April, at the Newcastle Royal Grammar School - take part, with a group of people with similar experience, in a conducting workshop, with Peter Broadbent (conductor of The Joyful Company of Singers andDirector of the abcd Training Unit) and Keith Orrell (Vocal Projects Leader, Wigan; Liverpool Welsh Choral Union; William Byrd Singers, Manchester).

24 April, at The Sage Gateshead - hear a performance by the Northern Sinfonia Chorus and Orchestra of the pieces by Howard Goodall and Durufle rehearsed at the first session.

For details and application forms contact Roger Crowther (tel: 0191 284 6615 email: rogercrowther@talktalk.net or Howard Layfield (tel: 01661 871105 email: howard.layfield@talktalk.net

27 - 28 February 2010 Sing for Pleasure announce a Weekend for Singers, Conductors and Vocal Leaders at the John Lewis Partnership, Victoria, London. Sing for Pleasure is offering a choice of courses for singers, conductors and vocal leaders at this specialist event. Whether you are trying your hand at conducting for the first time, improving your musicianship skills or refreshing knowledge gained on previous courses, you can look forward to a challenging and enjoyable weekend in a relaxed but stimulating atmosphere. The weekend includes the Musicianship for Singers course level 2, Choral Conducting courses at the Foundation, Intermediate1 and Intermediate 2 levels, and a conducting Masterclass led by Manvinder Rattan and Neil Ferris. Singers interested in singing with the conducting courses will also be most welcome.
 

VENUE The twelfth floor of the John Lewis training suite comprises several comfortable and well-equipped training rooms with stunning views across London. The course starts at 10.00 am on Saturday and ends with Tea at 3.30 pm on Sunday following an informal performance of the music learned over the weeend.

COST Musicianship for Singers course £50 (non-members £60)
Foundation/Intermediate courses £130 (non-members £155)
Choral Conducting Masterclass £150 (non-members £175)
Through the generosity of the John Lewis Partnership, some bursaries are available for teachers wishing to attend an SfP conducting course, or for teachers or younger (age16-26) appl icants to the Musicianship for Singers course. The course fees include all tuition, lunches, Saturday evening dinner and refreshments. Saturday night bed&breakfast is not included (but we are happy to advise of local hotels if required).
There is no charge for those interested in joining the Foundation or Intermediate groups as singers (though if attending the Saturday evening meal, at which they would be most welcome, they might care to contribute to its cost).

SfP Conductor Training Sing for Pleasure has been providing high quality training for choral conductors and vocal leaders for over 40years. In that time, we have developed courses that allow them to acquire a foundation repertoire of effective conducting gestures and techniques and then build on this in their individual ways and according to their varying experiences. A number of our students have gone on to win major national and international prizes with their choirs and some of them now teach the courses that provide them with the skills that power their success. Courses are delivered with a variety of training approaches, combining lectures on technique with practical workshops where students enjoy an enviable amount of podium time to practise their own skills and, importantly, observe others. The emphasis is on creating a learning environment that caters to the needs of a broad range of abilities and allows students to maximise their potential. SfP conducting training is at four levels.The Foundation level is for absolute beginners with little or no conducting experience, or for those with limited music reading skills. Students on the Intermediate 1 course will normally have some prior conducting experience, or will previously have attended a Sing for Pleasure conducting course. Intermediate 2 course students will usually have attended the Intermediate1 course and will have wider conducting experience. The Advanced course leads to a final formal concert and is accredited by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music as an approved substitute for the Dip ABRS Min Music Direction.

Visit
http://www.singforpleasure.org.uk/ for more details

10 April

15 May

12 June

17 July

ABCD Extended Choral Conductors Training

Initial course - provides a firm foundation for singing leaders and covers;

  • · Preparation

  • · Voice training

  • · Developing simple conducting gestures

  • · Learning to communicate with gesture instead of words

  • · Developing awareness of vocal technique

  • · Using warm-up exercises to develop    sound and flexibility

  • · Score preparation for rehearsal and performance

  • · How to communicate with your choir and lead efficient and enjoyable rehearsals

  • · Guidance on choosing suitable repertoire

  • · Development of programme-planning skills

Dates: 10th April, 15th May, 12th June, 17th July
Venue: St Pancras Church Hall, Lancing Street, London NW1 2BA.
Course Cost: £220 (abcd members) or £250 (non-members)

Visit www.abcd.org.uk or contact Kate Allen, 07528 382445 / kate.allen@abcd.org.uk for more information.

29 May The Choral Voice: for Choral Conductors & Singing Teachers
In association with the British Voice Association
Speakers Stuart Barr, Mike Brewer, Mary King, Jo McNally and Graham Welch will cover a range of topics including how the voice works ; improving choral singing technique; differences between choral and solo singing; idiomatic choral sound; the ageing voice; children’s and adolescent voices; warm-up: theory & practice; vocal health and how conducting gesture affects voice.
Date: Saturday 29 May
Venue: 10.00-17.30 The Priory Rooms, 40 Bull Street, Birmingham B4 6AF
Course Cost: £60 (abcd or BVA members), £70 (non-members) £35 (students).
24 April

25 April

23 May

27 June

25 July

12 September

16 October

17 October

ABCD Intermediate Course - includes active training sessions on vocal and rehearsal techniques alongside masterclasses and covers;

  • · Understanding the rehearsal process

  • · Understanding vocal development, skills and health

  • ·  Understanding conducting gesture and communication

  • ·  Repertoire and research

 The course is accepted as a substitute for the DipABRSM (Music Direction) which allows students who have successfully completed the course to proceed to the LRSM (Music Direction).

Dates: 24th & 25th April, 23rd May, 27th June, 25th July, 12th September, 16th and 17th October
Venue: The Hall School, Crossfield Road, Hampstead, London NW3 4NU

Course Cost: £560 (abcd members) or £595 (non-members).

Visit www.abcd.org.uk or contact Kate Allen, 07528 382445 / kate.allen@abcd.org.uk for more information.